On unforested Dhupguri stretch, goods train runs over 2 elephants
Times of India | 1 December 2025
Jalpaiguri: Two male elephants were killed after being hit by a goods train early on Sunday in Jalpaiguri's Dhupguri. The incident took place around 4am between Salbari and Kolaigram railway stations — an area which has had no history of elephant movement.
A herd of five elephants, a calf among them, had strayed out of Gorumara National Park on Friday and had travelled along the banks of the Jaldhaka to reach Uchulpukri village in Cooch Behar's Mekhliganj, traversing some 70km. The herd then took refuge in a small forested tract near Jamaldaha village.
Foresters had been waiting for the animals to return to their habitat.
On Saturday night, the elephants started moving towards Gorumara, but wandered off to Dhupguri after losing their way. "Three ‘maljuria' (who don't like to stay in a big herd and keep looking for new habitats) elephants had come on to the tracks when they got hit," a forester said.
"The incident happened on the main track connecting NJP to New Alipurduar via Jalpaiguri, Falakata and there is no forest tract nearby and hence no speed restrictions," said Northeast Frontier Railway CPRO Kapinjal Kishore Sharma.
Foresters are now trying to drive the rest of the herd into nearby forest tracts. An elephant has entered Sonakhali forest while the other two are heading towards Diana forest.