An alert driver of train no. 75730 heading from Silghat to Guwahati managed to save the life of an elephant when the animal came near the tracks on March 23.
NF Railways informed that the crew members were Kanak Chandra Nath, Loco Pilot (driver); Ravi Ranjan Kumar, Assistant Loco Pilot and Arun Rabha, Guard.
The train left Silghat at 6:00 am and while entering Jhakla Banda railway station at about 6:15 am, the on duty crew members suddenly noticed movement of an elephant at Km 54/0-1 just about 65 m ahead of the train. The Loco Pilot applied emergency brake at once for stopping the train and it came to a dead stop just 25 metres ahead of the elephant thereby saving its life and ensuring its safe passage, in a press note.
The section where the incident occurred is not earmarked as an elephant corridor and also no information on the movement of the elephant was received by the crew member.
Despite these, the Loco pilot was cautious enough with a speed of about 40 kmph and managed to save the elephant. However, in reaction to this incident, the elephant suddenly came towards the Diesel Power Car No. 13029 and attacked the Diesel Power Car. As a result of the attack dents, scratches and hole on the outer body of the train appeared.