Guwahati: Six wild elephants were mowed down by a speeding train at Balipara in Sonitpur district of Assam in early hours of Sunday even though the North East Frontier Railway had issued instruction for slowing down of trains whenever elephants’ movement is spotted on the track.
The incident occurred when Guwahati-Naharlagun (Arunachal Pradesh) Inter-city Express was passing through Bamgaon area at Balipara. Six elephants including a pregnant one were mowed down as the herd was crossing the track.
The accident resulted in disruption of rail communication along the track for till 6 on Sunday morning. Local people registered protests when excavators were used to remove carcasses on Sunday.
Assam forest minister Promila Rani Brahma termed it very unfortunate and called upon the railway authorities to ensure that its loco pilots abide by the speed restriction while passing through areas inhabited and roamed around by wild elephants.
As the winter sets in Assam in herds of wild elephants roam around the state coming out of forest areas on search of food and ripe paddy.
(EoM)
