West Bengal Train Driver Reportedly Saved Elephants From Being Trampled, Applied Brakes Just In Time

Humans have invaded the homes of wild animals. We have built buildings, roads, train tracks where there were forests and where the animals could roam around without fear or concern for their safety. But our invasion in their homes has forced them to come out of their shelters. That is why we saw a tiger wandering on road in the mountains recently. Even the rarely spotted white tiger had to go through the road to get to its dwelling place.

More often than not, when people find animals in their vicinity the resort to killing them, because they fear for their own lives. But setting a good example, a train driver reportedly stopped a train in its tracks to let a herd of elephants pass.

Twitter user Sushant Nanda who has mentioned being an IFS in his bio, posted a video which shows a herd of elephants crossing the train tracks from one section of the forest to another. Providing information about the video, a part of his tweet read, ¡®A herd of 15 elephants near Alipurdwar of WB, were saved by applying the emergency brake of the train while crossing the railway line.¡¯

Elephant god saved again. A herd of 15 elephants near Alipurdwar of WB, were saved by applying the emergency brake of the train while crossing the railway line. 2 incidents in two days. Thanks to the Railway Authorities @PiyushGoyal ?? pic.twitter.com/MaVzPHEXY7

¡ª Susanta Nanda IFS (@susantananda3) July 23, 2019

The video seems to have been shot from the still standing train. According to the tweet, this was second such incident in two days. We found that he tweeted a similar video on the same day. That tweet read, ¡®Timely action by a train driver in Dhenkanal district of Odisha saves the life of one elephant herd of 20. He is our real saviour.¡¯

Timely action by a train driver in Dhenkanal district of Odisha saves the life of one elephant herd of 20. He is our real saviour. pic.twitter.com/FLjL9i54d6

¡ª Susanta Nanda IFS (@susantananda3) July 23, 2019

In the video, again one can see a herd of elephants crossing from one part of the forest to another via railway tracks. The lights in the background are probably of the train that was at a halt. Netizens were impressed and grateful to the train driver to have taken the logical and noble step of stopping the train, instead of trampling over the elephants. This is what some of them had to say.

We need more people like this who really care

¡ª Kay Nair (@kaynair) July 24, 2019

Special thanks to the pilots

¡ª Vjay Sharma (@vickyshasha) July 23, 2019

Find the name of the motorman/woman and publish it. We are quick to name and shame but why not name when praising?

¡ª Vidya Heble (@purrsiflager) July 24, 2019

It is important that we realise not only the importance of conserving wildlife, but also the fact that animals, especially elephants have a strong emotional quotient and have special bond with their herd members. If any member of their herd dies, they mourn it in their own way. We know that elephants have strong memories. We hope that other railway members take note of these incidents and do their bit in protecting wildlife. It is the least they could do, stop the train if they see an animal on the tracks and let it pass.