Speeding train kills two elephants in Assam

Two elephants were run over by a speeding train in Assam on Friday.

Guwahati, Aug 10 : Two elephants were run over by a speeding train in Assam on Friday.

The train hit the elephants on a stretch of railway track running through a village on the outskirts of Guwahati city. One of the elephants was dragged along for quite a distance before the train stopped.

M.S. Malakar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), in Assam, said: "It is very unfortunate. Normally the elephants do not cross the railway lines because the forest is slightly away and also there is a village in between. Maybe during the night these elephants came and the incident took place about 12.35 a.m."

Engine drivers are supposed to reduce the speed of the train while passing through the area, the Deepor Beel, which is known as an elephant-bathing zone.

Villagers say such incidents had taken place a few years ago when three elephants had been killed.

"After the railway track was built here, such incidents started happening. Three years ago, three elephants had been killed by trains," said Nanda Phangsu, a villager.

Many elephants and wild animals have been hit by trains along this particular stretch of railway track, which pass through lush forest area.

India has more than 50 per cent of Asiatic elephants but its population has been dwindling due to poaching.

Home to 50,000 elephants a century ago, India now has just a little over 21,000.

ANI