Two elephants die after being hit by train

BAREILLY: Two elephants were killed after they were hit by a speeding passenger train near Haldi area of Uttarakhand located close to UP border. The animals were taken for post mortem examination and the forest department started investigation into the matter.

BAREILLY: Two elephants were killed after colliding with a speeding passenger train near Haldi area of Uttarakhand located close to UP border. The animals were taken for postmortem examination and the forest department started investigation into the matter.

“The accident occurred at 4 am when the animals were crossing the railway line. Both the animals were female calves aged two and three years,” said Kalyani Negi, divisional forest officer(DFO) of Haldwani region.

As per railway officials, the animals suddenly appeared on the tracks near Haldi railway station leaving no time for the train driver to react. “Loco pilot of 15013 Delhi-Kathgodam Express tried to stop the train but the animals were very close. The train was halted for around 10 minutes following the incident and the forest officials were duly informed,” said Rajendra Singh, public relation officer(PRO) of Izzatnagar division of NER Railway. “The driver initially reported collision with a single elephant but two were found dead on the spot.”

Reportedly the train was moving at a speed of over 60 Kmph when the incident occurred. The speed was enough to kill the animals on the spot. “Prima facie, it appears that the skeletal cage of both the animals were compromised which resulted in damage to vital organs and caused their death,” said the DFO. “Both elephants were found on either side of the track and were reported dead by our team,” she added.