Overview
- A Janshatabdi Express struck and killed three elephants—including two calves—on July 18 near Banstala station in Paschim Midnapore as a herd migrating from Dalma forest tried to cross the tracks.
- State Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda says forest officials alerted rail authorities around 11 pm, while Indian Railways insists it received no formal communication before the collision.
- Indian Railways’ Divisional Railway Manager Nishant Kumar and Divisional Forest Officer Umar Imam have each launched probes to establish accountability and review protocol lapses.
- Conservationists and the All India Loco Running Staff Association are advocating for AI-powered intrusion detection systems, dedicated underpasses and enforceable speed limits in key elephant corridors.
- The collision comes after a pattern of recurring fatalities along the Kharagpur–Tatanagar corridor, highlighting tensions between rail expansion and endangered elephant migrations.