Kolkata, Nov 13: At least seven elephants were killed after a speeding Assam-bound train ran into them in the Chapramari wildlife sanctuary in Jalpaiguri on Wednesday evening. According to forest department sources, a herd comprising 40 elephants was crossing railway tracks near a bridge in the sanctuary when the Jaipur-Kamakhya Kabiguru Express rammed into it. The train engine stopped after the mangled body of one of the elephants got stuck under it. Two calves and five adult elephants were killed in the accident. West Bengal Forest Minister Hiten Burman blamed the railways for the jumbos' deaths. He said trains are supposed to move at low speed and whistle continuously while passing through the elephant crossing zone but preliminary probe indicated that it was not the case on Wednesday. According to the guidelines made jointly by the railway ministry and state forest department, trains are supposed to run at speeds not more...
more... than 40 kmph but the Kabiguru Express was running at 70-80 kmph.
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