3 elephants killed by train in Jhagram during forest department drive

Three elephants — one adult and two calves — were killed after being hit by the Jan Shatabdi Express near Banshtala station in Jhargram district around 1 a.m. on Friday. The incident occurred when a herd was crossing the railway tracks during a forest department-led elephant drive. The train was en route from Jhargram to Kharagpur when it collided with the elephants, leading to their immediate death. The spot lies between Banshtala and Sardihi stations under the Manikpara range.

Forest department officials and members of the Hula Party were conducting the drive to steer the elephants away from human habitation when the herd reached the railway line. The three elephants that came under the train were unable to move out of its path in time. The accident brought train movement on the Kharagpur–Tatanagar section to a halt for several hours. Senior forest and railway officials arrived at the site soon after, and cranes were brought in to remove the carcasses.

Local residents gathered at the site in large numbers by morning, raising concerns over repeated incidents involving elephants in the region. Several people alleged that the elephant drives were being conducted without adequate presence of trained personnel. They claimed that the absence of experienced Hula Party members has contributed to the rising number of elephant deaths in Jhargram.

The forest department has not issued an official statement on the incident. Questions have been raised over coordination between departments, as well as precautionary measures in railway corridors frequently used by elephants. The affected railway line was reopened after the carcasses were cleared and necessary inspections were completed.