Teliamura, Feb 10, 2024, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Teliamura Feb 10: In an upsetting incident, locals recovered the lifeless body of an elephant with a missing tusk beside the railway tracks in DM Colony Para under Teliamura Police Station on Saturday.

Railway officials suspect that the elephant succumbed to injuries sustained after being hit by a train.

Forest department officials, Railway Police Officials along with Teliamura Police personnel hurried to the spot after receiving the information.

According to the Forest Department Teliamura, “The dead male elephant is about 5 years of age and died after a train suspected to be Kanchanjunga Express hit it and dragged it along the tracks in the early hours of Saturday morning”.

Notably, the railway track was constructed in the year 2008 and is an elephant corridor. The herd of 17 elephants move frequently in this area. Since, the one that died is a small kid, it was probably at the fag end of herd movement and died after being hit by the train.

The forest department personnel also cited the issue of ‘no underpass for the elephants in the railway track’.

However, the missing tusk of the deceased elephant has created a situation of mystery and excitement in the entire area, prompting an ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the incident has reignited concerns about the issue of elephant- human conflict in Teliamura subdivision.

The problem of wild elephants has long been a concern of the people residing in the area, especially in the areas of Krishnapur assembly constituency.

Also, despite assurances from the Teliamura Forest Department and Minister Bikash Debbarma the problem remains unresolved.

Recently, an important meeting titled ‘Elephant Chasing Campaign’ was held in the conference hall of Teliamura SDM office under the leadership of Khowai District Magistrate with an aim to provide relief to the people from the issue of wild elephants.

Saturday, the recovery of a dead elephant with missing tusk has added to the challenges for the concerned departments.