In South Surma, Sylhet, an elephant injured after being hit by a train is unable to move its hind legs or tail due to spinal injuries. Professor Sultan Ahmad of the Microbiology and Immunology Department at Sylhet Agricultural University, who is overseeing the animal’s treatment, provided the update on Monday morning.

Professor Sultan Ahmad explained that the spinal injury has left the elephant’s lower body paralyzed, making it impossible to lift the animal. Officials from the Forest Department and a faculty member from Jahangirnagar University have traveled from Dhaka to monitor its care.

Several people involved in the elephant’s treatment reported that the animal’s abdomen is swelling from lying in the same position for an extended period. They added that the animal’s condition remains uncertain at this stage.

The elephant had originally been injured late Saturday night in the Shibbari area of South Surma when it fell into a roadside pond next to the railway tracks after being struck by a train. By noon, local authorities, the Forest Department, police, fire service, veterinary officials from the district livestock office, and a medical team from the agricultural university worked together to rescue the elephant and move it to dry land. Since then, the elephant has remained at the site and continues to receive medical attention. Locals gathered at the scene after hearing about the rescue, while police and forest department personnel maintain security.

According to local sources and officials, the elephant is owned by Kamrul Islam from Kulaura in Moulvibazar. The animal had been brought to Sylhet for an event a few days earlier. On Saturday night around 10pm, the elephant and its mahout were crossing the railway line in Shibbari when the train struck them, causing the elephant to fall into the pond. The mahout was also injured, and due to the injury to its hind legs, the elephant was unable to climb out on its own.