Elephant dies a day after being hit by train in Sylhet
The elephant was struck by a train near the Shibbari area of South Surma in Sylhet city on Saturday (17 January).
An elephant critically injured after being hit by a train in Sylhet has died.
The animal died around 12:30pm today (19 January), confirmed Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Abdur Rahman and Professor Sultan Ahmed of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Sylhet Agricultural University, who was overseeing its treatment.
The elephant was struck by a train near the Shibbari area of South Surma in Sylhet city on Saturday (17 January) night and fell into a ditch beside the railway track. On Sunday afternoon, following joint efforts by the local administration, Forest Department, police, fire service, district livestock office doctors and a veterinary team from the agricultural university, the elephant was rescued and lifted onto land.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"However, due to its critical condition, it could not be moved from the area and eventually died there today," Mohammad Abdur Rahman said.
Providing similar information, Professor Sultan Ahmed said the elephant had suffered a spinal injury after falling into the ditch following the train collision, leaving its hindquarters paralysed.
"As a result, it was not possible to move the animal. We provided all necessary treatment. Officials from the Forest Department and a faculty member from Jahangirnagar University also came from Dhaka to assess its condition. Despite all efforts, the elephant died around noon," he said.
Several people involved in the treatment said the elephant's abdomen became swollen after it remained in the same spot for a prolonged period.
According to local and administrative sources, the elephant belonged to Kamrul Islam of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar. The animal had been brought to Sylhet a few days earlier for a wedding ceremony. At around 10pm on Saturday, while the mahout was attempting to cross the railway line with the elephant in the Shibbari area, it was hit by a train and fell into the ditch. The mahout was also injured in the incident.
The elephant was unable to move due to severe injuries to its hind legs and spine.
