Elephant Movement Disrupts Rail and Road Traffic in Jharkhand; 18 Local Trains Cancelled

Ranchi- Ongoing movement of wild elephants across key transport corridors has caused widespread disruption to rail and road traffic in Jharkhand, forcing authorities to cancel train services and suspend highway movement as a precaution.

According to railway officials, frequent elephant crossings on the Manoharapur–Jharsuguda section under the Chakradharpur railway division have led to the cancellation of 18 local passenger trains from December 25 to 28. The decision was taken to prevent potential accidents and ensure passenger safety.

Several MEMU services, including those operating between Tatanagar, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Barbil, Gua, and Kharagpur, have been affected. The prolonged cancellations have created difficulties for thousands of daily commuters who rely on these trains for routine travel.

Meanwhile, a recent incident highlighted effective coordination between railway and wildlife authorities. A group of 22 elephants crossed tracks on the Howrah–Mumbai main line between Bisra and Bandamunda Cabin ‘A’. In response, rail traffic on the route was temporarily halted, with 12 long-distance trains stopped to allow the animals to pass safely.

This proactive step came amid heightened alertness following the tragic killing of seven elephants in Assam after being hit by the Rajdhani Express earlier this month. The Chakradharpur railway division was later recognised by the Wildlife Trust of India for preventing a similar tragedy.

Road traffic was also affected when a herd of 18 elephants emerged near National Highway-33 between Ranchi and Ramgarh on Wednesday evening. Police and district officials immediately stopped vehicular movement from both directions. Traffic was restored after forest department teams safely drove the elephants back into nearby forest areas.

Authorities said the human-elephant conflict remains a serious concern, with six fatalities reported in Jharkhand due to elephant attacks in the last week alone.

With inputs from IANS