A goods train was briefly halted on Thursday after a herd of elephants was spotted crossing a railway track at Nambira in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, highlighting ongoing efforts to prevent human–wildlife conflict in the region.
The incident occurred along the South Eastern Railway route when railway staff received prior information about the movement of elephants near the track. Acting on the alert, railway personnel ensured that a goods train heading towards Bansapani was stopped nearly 200 metres before the crossing point.
According to reports, the herd consisted of four elephants, including two calves. The loco pilot was promptly informed about their presence, following which the train was brought to a complete halt as a precautionary measure.
Eyewitnesses said the elephants paused briefly midway after noticing the stationary train. After a short moment, the herd calmly crossed the railway track and moved safely into the forested area without any untoward incident.
The Forest Department remains on high alert in Keonjhar and surrounding areas, which are known elephant corridors. Authorities are closely monitoring elephant movement to prevent accidents, especially after past incidents of train–elephant collisions in the region.
In 2023, an elephant was killed after being hit by a train in the same belt, prompting stricter precautionary measures by both forest and railway authorities. While no official statement was issued by South Eastern Railway or Champua Forest officials in this case, it was reported that timely action by railway staff helped avert a potential tragedy.
