Six elephants run over by speeding train in Bengal

Six elephants died when they were run over by an express train in the Dooars forest of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district Wednesday.

State Forest Minister Hiten Burman said the incident happened around 5.45 p.m. near the Nagrakata-Jaldhaka bridge when the Guwahati-bound Kaviguru Express crushed the pachyderms.

"Six elephants have died and several other elephants were critically injured. They are under treatment," the minister said.

Burman alleged that the train was travelling at a speed much higher than the limit of 40 km per hour prescribed in the area, which is part of the elephant corridor.

"We will lodge an FIR against the railway authorities. Once we get the report from the forest officials, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be intimated about the accident," he said.

The train has been held up at the spot till last reports came in, as the bodies of some of the elephants were crushed and stuck to the track.