Trains in Bengal's Dooars halted to save elephants

The Northeast Frontier Railway on Tuesday halted train services in West Bengal's Dooars region for six hours after receiving information about movement of elephant herds in the areas near Rajabhatkhowa station in Alipurduar district, an official said.

"Northeast Frontier Railway has stopped movement of all trains in the Alipurduar Junction-Siliguri section from 8.55 a.m. on Tuesday morning," Pranav Jyoti Sharma, the Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway said.

The services were resumed at 3 p.m.

"However, there is now a speed restriction of 30 km per hour. We are also in touch with forest officials," said Sharma.

During the stoppage, certain trains on the route had to be controlled to let the herd of elephants pass through.

"15483 Sikkim-Mahananda Express and 13247 Guwahati-Danapur Express were controlled at Alipurduar Junction station while 15765 Siliguri-Dhubri Express was controlled at Rajabhatkhowa station," an official said.

Passenger trains and goods trains also had to be halted at various stations to avoid any untoward incident.

--IANS

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