A tragic incident occurred in Odisha’s Sundargarh district on Monday night when a goods train struck a herd of elephants, killing a calf and injuring two adult jumbos. The accident happened around 9:30 PM near Bondamunda in the Bisra range of the Rourkela Forest Division, along the Howrah-Mumbai railway line.

According to forest officials, the herd, consisting of 23 elephants, was on the move when local residents allegedly attempted to chase them away, leading the animals to venture onto the railway tracks. The speeding train collided with the elephants, resulting in the calf’s death on the spot and injuries to the two other elephants.

Forest authorities have expressed concerns over increasing incidents of human-elephant conflict in the area, often caused by human encroachment into forest lands and the elephants’ shrinking natural habitat. Senior forest and railway officials are currently investigating the incident, and efforts are being made to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The injured elephants are under close observation by wildlife experts and veterinarians. Local residents and wildlife activists have urged the authorities to enhance coordination between forest and railway departments to prevent further casualties.

This incident highlights the urgent need for effective measures to safeguard wildlife, particularly in regions where railway lines intersect with forest corridors.