JAISALMER: The crisis facing Camel in Rajasthan continues, with another incident reported from the Lathi area of Jaisalmer. Late Sunday night, near Shri Bhadariya–Lathi railway station, a herd of camels crossing the railway tracks was hit by a train, leading to the death of six animals.The impact of the collision was severe, and the camel carcasses were scattered over a wide area. Eyewitnesses said the scene at the accident site was distressing and left villagers deeply saddened. The incident has also triggered anger among camel herders in the region.According to available information, the accident took place late Sunday night or early Monday morning near Lathi town in Jaisalmer district. Six camels were killed after being struck by the Leelan Express while they were crossing the railway track.Reports said a herd of camels was attempting to cross the tracks when the speeding train approached, leaving the animals with no chance to escape. Two camels got stuck in the engine, and considerable effort was required to remove them. As a result, the train remained halted for around 20–30 minutes.The herd was reportedly crossing the railway line near Lathi station around midnight when the Leelan Express, travelling from Jaisalmer towards Pokaran, reached the spot. The sound of the approaching train caused panic among the animals, and six camels died on the spot, with two of them becoming trapped in the locomotive.Due to the camels being lodged in the engine, the train had to stop on the track while the animals were removed after strenuous efforts. The train resumed its journey after about 20–30 minutes, causing inconvenience to passengers.A police team from Lathi police station, railway staff including Jamadar Rewatram Chaudhary, wildlife enthusiast Mukesh Bhil and local villagers reached the site in the morning and helped remove the dead camels from the tracks.The Lathi region and nearby areas largely depend on livestock rearing. Along with farming, many villagers rely on animal husbandry, and camels are commonly found in this area. The railway track passes near several villages located north and south of National Highway 11 between Pokaran and Jaisalmer. Due to the isolated surroundings, livestock often graze near the tracks, and such accidents occasionally occur when animals stray onto the railway line.Despite repeated incidents of animals being killed by trains in the area, locals claim that adequate safety measures have not been implemented by the authorities.As news of the incident spread, a large number of villagers and camel herders gathered at the site under the leadership of social worker Mukesh Bhil.Ranveer Singh, an animal lover from Lathi town, said villagers expressed deep sorrow and anger over the incident. He said several such cases of animal deaths have occurred on this route in the past, yet no effective preventive measures have been taken by the railway authorities or the administration.He added that villagers immediately informed local administrative officials and the railway department. Camel herders have demanded a proper post-mortem of the dead camels and fair compensation for the affected owners. Local residents have also urged authorities to install fencing along sensitive railway stretches or regulate train speeds in such areas to prevent similar incidents in the future.
