These startling images show an elephant escaping being hit by a train by a whisker -- as it crosses the tracks perilously close to an oncoming train.
The images, titled 'Death Trap', were taken by wildlife photographer Rupak Dastidar (@rupak_ghoshdastidar).
The series of images highlight the danger elephants in the Indian forest face after a train line was built that cuts straight through the forest.
Dozens of elephants are killed every year after being hit by trains -- which resulted in a speed limit being introduced for trains in a bid to save lives of elephants.
In the past five years, at least 26 elephants have been killed and scores more injured by trains on the stretch of track near the Nepal border, according to wildlife officials.
Be careful! An elephant nearly misses a train as he crosses the tracks in the jungles near New Jalpaiguri. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
People look on from the train as an elephant tries to cross the rail tracks. The new train tracks have been built to pass through national parks and reserved forests. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
The images show the danger elephants in the Indian forest face after a train line was built that cuts straight through the forest. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
According to photographer, the train track has turned out to be a graveyard for wild elephants with more than 90 of them being killed since the conversion took place. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
In the past five years, at least 26 elephants have been killed and scores more injured by trains on the stretch of track near the Nepal border, according to wildlife officials. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
In 2014, the Supreme Court had issued directions to the Railways to reduce these accidents, which included reducing the speed limit of running trains that are passing through dense forests and to take steps to discontinue the movement of goods trains at night between Siliguri and Alipurduar. Photograph: @rupak_ghoshdastidar/Instagram
