Rudrapur, Uttarakhand | October 29, 2026
A male elephant died after being struck by the Bagh Express on the Chhatarpur–Haldi railway stretch in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district late on Tuesday, October 27. The collision occurred while a herd was crossing the tracks, according to officials cited by The Times of India.
The death takes the state’s reported elephant mortality tally to 10 this year. This figure covers elephant deaths from different causes, rather than train collisions alone.
Collision on Forest Railway Stretch
The accident occurred near railway pillar 55/8 within the Rudrapur range of the Terai Central Forest Division. The Howrah-bound train struck the elephant along a stretch used by wildlife.
One tusk broke during the collision and was recovered by railway personnel for transfer to the forest department after the necessary formalities. Forest and railway teams inspected the site.
Passengers Safe, Train Delayed
The locomotive sustained damage, delaying the service before its journey resumed. Officials said approximately 1,000 passengers were aboard and all were safe.
A veterinary panel was scheduled to examine the elephant on Wednesday. Dainik Jagran reported an estimated age of seven to eight years, although a final postmortem assessment was not available in the reports reviewed.
Inquiry into Circumstances
The forest department has initiated an inquiry into the collision, including whether the prescribed train speed was observed and whether the accident could have been prevented. Responsibility should be established through the investigation.
Earlier Collisions Highlight Recurring Risk
Local reporting documents previous elephant fatalities on railway stretches around Haldi, Lalkuan and the Terai forests. These include the deaths of two female elephants near Haldi in April 2017 and an elephant and calf in a collision in August 2021.
The latest death renews attention to monitoring elephant movement, timely communication between railway and forest personnel, and compliance with safety measures on vulnerable stretches.
Sources: The Times of India; Dainik Jagran; Amar Ujala.
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