Guwahati: An adult female elephant was seriously injured after being hit by a train while crossing railway tracks in Assam’s Hojai district on Wednesday evening. A forest officer said the animal’s chances of survival were low.The incident occurred at Dissao Nepali Basti, about 3-4 km from Lamsakhang railway station towards Guwahati, around 4.30pm. A herd of about 50 elephants was crossing the tracks when the Silchar-Guwahati Express struck the elephant.Manik Baruah, range officer of the Lanka forest range, said the herd usually crossed the tracks after dark while moving from Lumding Reserved Forest to West Karbi Anglong and returned before dawn.“However, this time, the herd altered its usual route and crossed the tracks before the designated caution period of 6pm to 6am,” Baruah said.A Forest Department team had been clearing vegetation near the railway tracks several hours before the incident. The personnel left for their forest camp and were due to return for patrol duty along the tracks at 6pm. The incident occurred before they returned, the officer said.Baruah said the stretch where the herd crossed the tracks was generally used by elephants residing in Lumding Reserved Forest and not by this herd.He said the herd comprised about 90 elephants, of which around 50 were crossing the tracks when the incident occurred.The forest officer said the injured elephant had not been seen bleeding but had suffered severe injuries.
