6 Trains from (BRJN)BRAJRAJNAGAR to (BONA)BOINDA

दक्षिण पूर्व à¤°à¥‡à¤²à¤µà¥‡

SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY

प्रेस विज्ञप्ति

PRESS RELEASE

NEW STOPPAGES OF TRAINS

Kolkata, 2^nd June, 2023:

For convenience of passengers, it has been decided that the following trains will be provided stoppage at Kuhuri Station in Khurda Road Division and Brajrajnagar Station in Bilaspur Division o­n an experimental basis as per the following schedule: 

STOPPAGE OF TRAINS AT KUHURISTATION

·18117 Rourkela-Gunupur Rajya Rani Express, journey commencing w.e.f 03.06.2023 will arrive Kuhuri station at 07:22 hrs and will depart at 07:24 hrs. 

·18118 Gunupur-Rourkela Rajya Rani Express, journey commencing w.e.f 04.06.2023 will arrive Kuhuri station at 20:41 hrs and will depart at 20:43 hrs.

STOPPAGE OF TRAINS AT BRAJRAJNAGARSTATION

·18030 Shalimar-LTT Express, journey commencing w.e.f 05.06.2023 will arrive Brajrajnagar station at 00:58 hrs and will depart at 01:00 hrs. 

·18029 LTT-Shalimar Express, journey commencing w.e.f 04.06.2023 will arrive Brajrajnagar station at 01:19 hrs and will depart at 01:21 hrs. 

……………

On the night of April 6th, 2023, a tragic incident occurred in the Angul-Sambalpur Railway Section, where an elephant lost its life due to a train accident between Boinda and Jarapada Stations. Some media outlets have reported that the incident occurred due to a lack of coordination between the Railway and Forest Department.

It is mentioned here that, there are Wildlife Control Cells functioning at Divisional Headquarters at Sambalpur and Khurda Road Railway Division that provide information regarding movement of elephants to the Divisional Controls so that the movement of wildlife will be safe o­n Railway tracks. This coordination leads to the railways running the trains at a lower speed and blowing horns while moving o­n a particular stretch of track to avoid wildlife and train conflict.

In this particular incidence, the Wildlife Control Cell manned by Forest Department at Sambalpur Railway Division gave a Memo to the Divisional Control Office o­n restriction of Train Movement at 06.30p.m. o­n 06.04.2023 mentioning that in view of Elephant movement, train running should be restricted with Speed Limit of 50Kmph from Kms 125/00 to Kms 131/00 from both sides between Boinda and Jarapada Stations from 06.30p.m. of 06.04.2023 to 06.30a.m. of 07.04.2023.

Upon receiving this information, the Railways took necessary steps, and the instructions were clearly communicated to the Loco Pilot, who followed the orders provided to him through a caution order. However, it should be noted that the unfortunate incident occurred beyond the above-mentioned area, specifically at KMs 131/23-25, which is beyond the elephant passing zone, as per the memo of the Forest Department. The incident occurred at 2121hrs while 20832 Sambalpur-Shalimar Mahima Gosain Express was approaching Jarapada Railway Station from Boinda in Sambalpur-Angul Railway Section, with all precautions taken by maintaining the above-mentioned speed limit, blowing horns, and following all caution orders.

After the incident, the loco-pilot checked the spot and proceeded to Jarapada Station at 2149hrs and reached at 2152hrs and reported the incident to the Station authorities. Later, the Railway track was checked, and permission was given for train movement at 2233hrs.

A team of forest and Wildlife Department visited the spot to remove the elephant body from Railway Track o­n 7th April 2023. Railway officials also cooperated with Forest Department for removal of Elephant body from the train line. Train Traffic Movement Block was taken from 1445hrs to 1510hrs for this purpose.

ECoR takes the unfortunate incident of the elephant's death very seriously and is monitored at the top level of management. All channels of communication are open for proper coordination with the Forest Department, and there is no lack of coordination from the Railway system.

It is further mentioned here that, there was no casualty or injury to any passenger and all the passengers were safe. Swift and appropriate action had been taken by East Coast Railway o­n receipt of the information regarding Elephant Movement.

It is also mentioned that, with proper coordination with the Forest department, ECoR has already been following elephant caution orders, where the speed of trains is restricted for the safe movement of elephants o­n the track, at the cost of punctuality of the trains. Elephant caution orders exist at many places in ECoR jurisdiction, like near Rambha & Huma in Khurda Road-Brahmapur Railway Section, Naraj-Rajathgarh Section, Rajathgarh-Angul-Sambalpur Railway Sections apart from other places in ECoR jurisdiction where Railway is coordinating with Forest Department for saving wildlife.