A tragic event occurred in the Rayagada district of Odisha early Thursday morning when a tusker was killed in a collision with a train.

The accident took place between the Bissamcuttack and Therubali railway stations, near Brundabadi, around railway kilometre 312.5/7. Initial reports suggest the elephant was struck while crossing or moving close to the railway line.

The specific train involved in the incident has yet to be identified.

The collision with the train engine caused severe injuries to the tusker, which collapsed beside the tracks and died before help could arrive.

After the incident was reported, railway police and officials quickly arrived at the scene.

The local Forest Department was notified about the elephant’s demise, and forest officials soon arrived to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Authorities will work to determine how the elephant came to be on the railway track and to identify the train responsible for the collision.

This incident underscores the dangers elephants and other wildlife face when navigating railway corridors that intersect their natural habitats.