Kerala: Fast train kills elephant in Palakkad

In yet another such occurrence this week, a female elephant died after being struck by a train, this time in Kerala. The Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express struck the animals in the early hours of Friday at Kanjikkode in the Palakkad district along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.

They added that they examined the neighbourhood to see if any further elephants were hurt and stated that the deceased jumbo was about 20 years old. Locals said that the mother elephant and her calf camped in the region for a considerable amount of time, and they believe the herd snatched the baby elephant. According to reports, the train continued on its route when local pilots warned surrounding stations about the accident.

“The area has a speed restriction of 40-45 km per hour due to wildlife activity. We will summon the loco pilot and record his statement. We will also examine the speed of the train when the mishap occurred,” said a senior official of the forest department. State forest minister AK Saseendran has also sought a report from them.

More than 25 elephants have perished in the past three decades in the Walayar Reserve Forest’s section between Kanjikode and Walayar Stations, which is infamous for animal crossing. Despite the railways’ efforts to reduce train speed and fence off dangerous areas throughout the track, accidents nevertheless happen often.

The most recent occurrence demonstrates that speed limitations have had no effect on elephant mortality on the important railway route that runs between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Numerous trains, according to locals, allegedly violate nighttime speed limits.

A request to decongest the area and redirect some trains through the Palakkad-Pollachi-Coimbatore route was previously rejected by the Railways on the grounds that it would be too tortuous.