Two elephants mowed down by train in Bengal

Kolkata, July 1 (IANS) Two elephants were mowed down Tuesday by a speeding train in Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district of West Bengal, an official said.

The accident happened when a Guwahati-bound train hit the tuskers while they were crossing the tracks.

"Two elephants have been killed when they were hit by a speeding train. The incident happened under the Buxa Tiger Reserve," principal chief conservator of forests N.C. Bahuguna said.

In November last year, six elephants, among them a pregnant female, were killed and several others injured after they were hit by a train near the Nagrakata-Jaldhaka bridge in Jalpaiguri district.

Since 2004, when the tracks on the Siliguri-Alipurduar route were converted to broad gauge, speeding trains have mowed over 50 elephants. Following the spate of accidents, in 2010 the speed of the trains was restricted to 40 kmph.