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Two Elephants Killed by Goods Train in Jalpaiguri as Officials Review Corridor Status

The non-corridor stretch now faces a speed-policy review after the pre-dawn collision raised questions over alerts.

Overview

  • A down freight train hit a herd near railway pillar 73/7 by Khalaigram around 4 a.m. on November 30, with officials confirming two elephant deaths at the scene.
  • The status of a third injured elephant is contested, with a local report saying it died during treatment while a December 1 forest division update cited only minor injuries under monitoring.
  • Railway authorities said the Salbari–Kolaigram route is outside designated elephant corridors, reported no prior forest notification, and noted that no speed restrictions were in force.
  • Forest and railway teams halted other trains during a multi-hour operation that used a hydraulic crane to move an injured animal, and a resident injured in the commotion was hospitalized.
  • The Gorumara Wildlife Division is assessing whether an old or secondary corridor exists on this stretch and may seek targeted speed controls, as separate collisions continue to surface, including a calf killed near Haridwar on December 1.