Puri Surat express hits elephant derails in the wee hours
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The passengers of the Puri - Surat Express train have a miraculous escape after the train hit an elephant at Bhabanipalli in between Hatibari and Manesar railway station under Sambalpur Division of East Coast Railway at around 2 AM today.
Railway sources said all passengers including the Driver and Assistant drivers of the train are safe.
Six wheels of the 02827 Puri - Surat express which left Puri at 7.45 PM yesterday derailed at 0204 hrs after hitting the elephant.
The body of the elephant was crushed under the train and turned to pieces.
Sambalpur DRM Pradip Kumar with all senior officers reached the spot soon after the derailment and inquiring into the cause of the accident.
ECOR sources said new Engine reached the spot and all coaches of the train pulled back to Hatibari station.
Due to the derailment the 08425 Puri Durg Special Express controlled at Juju mora and the 08448 Koraput- Bhubaneswar Special controlled at Sambalpur for sometimes.
Sambalpur DFO Sanjit Kumar and other Forest officers reached the spot and inquiring into the incident along with the Railway officials.
The train departed from Hatibari at 0155 hrs with a speed of 50 KMPH as elephant caution already imposed, railway sources said.
The latest report said the track was declared fit at 0710 hrs and the 02827 Puri - Surat Express left Hatibari at 7.24 AM.
The DFO said the accident occurred while a herd of 14 elephants were passing the track. He said the forest officials have informed the railway officials about the passing of the elephants.
Mr Kumar said though he did not know the exact speed of the train at the time of derailment it seemed the train was running at a speed higher than the recommended speed while passing an elephant corridor.
