Baby elephant killed in Chandwa train accident, angry herd stalls rescue and halts rail traffic

A baby elephant was killed after being hit by a train on the Barkakana–Barwadih railway line in Chandwa, Jharkhand. The incident took place on the down line between Mahuamilan and Nidra railway stations near Putri Tola village, where a herd of elephants was crossing the tracks. The impact left the calf critically injured, triggering an intense and prolonged rescue challenge.

Soon after the accident, forest department teams reached the site to initiate rescue efforts. However, the situation quickly turned volatile as the rest of the herd remained near the tracks. The elephants were visibly agitated and did not allow officials, veterinarians, or villagers to approach the injured calf, making immediate medical intervention impossible. Railway operations on both up and down lines were completely halted following the incident, causing major inconvenience to passengers. Railway and forest officials remained stationed at the site throughout the night, attempting to manage the situation and ensure safety. Senior forest officials reviewed the ground situation as efforts continued to restore normalcy.

The mother elephant stayed close to her injured calf, circling protectively and refusing to move away. Despite prolonged waiting and monitoring, the calf succumbed to its injuries after midnight. A post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday morning, and the forest department has launched an investigation, stating that a detailed report will be prepared and preventive measures examined.