M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, Aug 28: Palamu Tiger Reserve management is set to honor its two member engine crew of the Dn 11447 Jabalpur Howrah Shaktipunj express train which saved nearly a dozen elephants between Chhipadohar and Hehegara railway stations from getting run over while piloting on Friday.
Chief conservator of forest and field director, of the reserve Ashutosh told lagatar24.com that they will honor the two member engine crew A K Vidyarthi and R K Choubey, who showed presence of mind and allowed the elephants to cross the railway tracks.
Ashutosh said, “We hold wild life week every first week of October and will be inviting these loco pilots to be with us on one of the days of this week. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the two loco pilots for saving the wild life.”
Field director Ashutosh further said, “We would like to hear them if they have any more suggestions for the safety of the elephants here during our Wild Life week.”
Notably, on Friday evening these two loco pilots pulled emergency brakes and halted the long distance Howrah bound Shaktipunj express train coming from Jabalpur when they spotted nearly a dozen elephants either standing between the tracks or crossing it quite leisurely.
Ashutosh said that had this train run on its own speed, a tragedy would have taken place.
Sources said that in the eighties, three elephants were run over on the Java bridge by the goods train. The remaining elephants had then squatted down the railway tracks for hours waiting for their dead to join them.
