By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Rudrapur (US Nagar), 28 Oct: A male elephant was killed after being hit by the Bagh Express between Haldi and Chhatarpur railway stations in Udham Singh Nagar district late last night, once again highlighting the threat posed by railway traffic to wildlife in Uttarakhand’s elephant corridors.
The incident occurred near railway pillar number 55/8, within the Rudrapur Range of the Terai Central Forest Division, when the train, travelling from Lalkuan towards Howrah, encountered a herd of elephants crossing the railway track. One of the elephants was struck by the train and died on the spot. The impact was so severe that one of its tusks broke and the overhead electric equipment was also damaged, forcing the train to halt for nearly two hours. Around 1,000 passengers were reportedly on board, but all remained safe.
The Forest Department and Railway officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the incident. The carcass was removed from the track after the necessary formalities. Range Forest Officer Roop Narayan Gautam said the forest team reached the site immediately and that the required action was being taken in coordination with railway officials. He stressed the need for trains to maintain controlled speeds and for loco pilots to sound their horns continuously while passing through areas frequented by elephants.
The broken tusk, initially taken into Railway custody, was handed over to the Forest Department today. The inquest and post-mortem examination were completed, following which the carcass was disposed of through cremation in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
It may be reminded here that the incident is not an isolated one in Uttarakhand. In April 2025, a tusker was killed after being hit by the Ramnagar-Agra Fort Express near Muktidham on the Lalkuan-Bareilly railway section. In October-November 2025, another elephant was critically injured after being hit by a special train in the Tilpura-Tanda corridor on the Gularbhoj-Lalkuan stretch. A juvenile elephant was also killed by a train near Motichur and Raiwala in the Rajaji Tiger Reserve in December 2025. Earlier, similar incidents had been reported from the Haridwar and Ramnagar areas.
A recent report prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India has identified the Lalkuan-Chhatarpur railway line as a vulnerable stretch, with around eight kilometres passing through elephant habitat. The report records several instances of elephant deaths and injuries along the railway sections in the Terai region and recommends measures such as safer crossing passages, ramps, speed restrictions and early-warning systems.
The recurrence of such incidents raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the preventive measures being implemented by the Railways and the Forest Department. While speed restrictions, warning signs and coordination between the two departments are essential, these measures need to be enforced consistently and monitored effectively. Technology-based systems capable of detecting elephant movement and alerting loco pilots in real time, along with suitable underpasses and safe crossing points, must also be implemented at vulnerable locations.
It may also be pointed here that the elephant corridors are established movement routes, and railway tracks passing through them inevitably create risks unless adequate safeguards are put in place. Merely sounding horns or rushing teams to remove carcasses after accidents cannot prevent such tragedies. The latest death underlines the need for sustained coordination, accountability and urgent action to ensure that railway infrastructure does not continue to take a toll on Uttarakhand’s wildlife.
