Passenger train ploughs into elephant herd
NEW DELHI: The night train to Silchar was moving fast — too fast, authorities say.
As it chugged into a forested area of northeastern India on Saturday night, a group of villagers waved their flashlights frantically, urging the driver to slow down.
When the train driver finally hit the emergency brake, railway officials said, it was too late.
The 14-car passenger train ploughed right into an elephant herd. Two calves and two adult elephants were killed instantly.
A badly injured adult elephant died on Monday.
Indian forestry officials said the warnings had been ignored for a simple reason; the train was running 10 minutes late.
The incident is under investigation.