Three Elephants Mowed Down By Moving Train In Coimbatore

Earlier, an RTI query revealed that seven elephants died in mishaps that took place in Line B passing through the dense forest.

Chennai: Three female elephants were killed after a speeding train mowed down the jumbos at Mavuthampathi village near Navakkarai in Maduvankarai on Friday night. The three jumbos including two calves, aged between 12-25 years, were dragged by Mangaluru-Chennai Express for a few meters before stopping in Line B of Mahindramedu. 

Even in the past, several accidents were reported from Line B of Madukkarai forest range and the B line was set up despite opposition from activists since it falls through a dense forest. 

According to a report on The New Indian Express, on Friday soon after the incident, the forest department staff were rushed to service to clear the carcass of the elephant from the railway line to ensure the traffic flow.  Also, the forest department decided to conduct the autopsy on Saturday. 

The Forest Department has also pressed District Forest Officer TK Ashok Kumar to conduct a preliminary investigation into the death of the jumbos. 

Reacting to the incident, Tamil Nadu Principal Secretary Environment, Climate Change and Forest Supriya Sahu said, "In a terrible incident, three elephants were killed by a  moving passenger train in Madikeri range of Coimbatore division last night. Forest officials are investigating. A sad day for us. Heartbreaking. We will work immediately on this to stop these incidents."

In a similar manner, an elephant was knocked down by a train of southern railways between Palakad and Coimbatore in March 2021. During the same time, an RTI query by activist R Pandiaraja of Tenkasi revealed that eight elephants succumbed in train mishaps between Kanjikode and Madukkarai railway station of which seven mishaps took place only in Line B passing through the dense forest.