Agartala, Dec 30: A full-grown elephant was severely injured after being struck by a ‘speeding’ train in Tripura’s Khowai district on Saturday night. The incident occurred at Champlai, a designated elephant corridor, when the elephant herd was crossing the area.

District Forest Officer (DFO) Akshay Balu Bhorde confirmed that the elephant suffered severe injuries, including fractures to both back legs, and was bleeding heavily. The elephant is unable to move due to the extent of the injuries. Preliminary treatment was administered at the scene, and a team from the state veterinary hospital was sent to provide further assistance.

The local train involved, traveling from Agartala to Dharmangar, was supposed to maintain a speed of 20 km per hour in the elephant corridor. However, Bhorde suggested that the train may have been traveling at a speed of 50 km per hour, contributing to the severity of the accident.

Northeast Frontier Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, stated that the loco pilot did not report any mishap and had been cautious while passing through the corridor. An investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.

This is the second such incident in the area this year. In February, another elephant was killed after being struck by a train at Champlai. Following that incident, the forest department had urged railway authorities to enforce the 20 km per hour speed limit to prevent further accidents.