An elephant was killed when the Delhi bound Jan Shatabdi Express ran over it in Motichur forest near Haridwar on Saturday night. Forest officials claimed that an elephant calf was also injured in the accident.
The accident occurred when the train dashed against a herd crossing the railway track in the forest zone. Officials said some elephants may have been injured in the accident. “We are trying to locate them,” a source in the forest department said.
Train driver Surinder Kumar and assistant driver Meghram have been apprehended. According to forest officials, they would be booked under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Additional Secretary (forest) Manoj Chadra said that it was clear weather and there was no visibility problem in the area.
The carcass of the elephant remained stuck below the engine for several hours. The passengers were brought back to Dehradun while engine remained halted at the spot. The accident affected train movements between Dehradun and Haridwar.
However, Senior DCM (Moradabad) Manoj Sharma said that as per his preliminary report the train driver was not at fault. “On this particular track, trains run with extreme caution,” he said, adding there are guidelines for the driver.
Meanwhile, strong resentment prevailed among railway employees at Dehradun following the decision of the forest department to apprehend the train’s driver and assistant driver. “The first right on the track is that of the railways. If a herd of elephant appears all of a sudden on the railway track, the driver is supposed to give first priority to the lives of passengers travelling in the train,” said a railway employee.
CM Vijay Bahuguna directed the Commissioner of Garhwal Division to probe the incident. According to a press release issued by the state government, the elephant killed was about 15 years old. The release added that as per the driver’s statement, the train was running at 45-47 km per hour and the accident occurred around 6.30 am.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elephant-run-over-calf-injured-by-train-near-haridwar/1059037/0
The accident occurred when the train dashed against a herd crossing the railway track in the forest zone. Officials said some elephants may have been injured in the accident. “We are trying to locate them,” a source in the forest department said.
Train driver Surinder Kumar and assistant driver Meghram have been apprehended. According to forest officials, they would be booked under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Additional Secretary (forest) Manoj Chadra said that it was clear weather and there was no visibility problem in the area.
The carcass of the elephant remained stuck below the engine for several hours. The passengers were brought back to Dehradun while engine remained halted at the spot. The accident affected train movements between Dehradun and Haridwar.
However, Senior DCM (Moradabad) Manoj Sharma said that as per his preliminary report the train driver was not at fault. “On this particular track, trains run with extreme caution,” he said, adding there are guidelines for the driver.
Meanwhile, strong resentment prevailed among railway employees at Dehradun following the decision of the forest department to apprehend the train’s driver and assistant driver. “The first right on the track is that of the railways. If a herd of elephant appears all of a sudden on the railway track, the driver is supposed to give first priority to the lives of passengers travelling in the train,” said a railway employee.
CM Vijay Bahuguna directed the Commissioner of Garhwal Division to probe the incident. According to a press release issued by the state government, the elephant killed was about 15 years old. The release added that as per the driver’s statement, the train was running at 45-47 km per hour and the accident occurred around 6.30 am.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/elephant-run-over-calf-injured-by-train-near-haridwar/1059037/0
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