Three elephants killed as train runs into herd

Jorhat, February 27 (PTI): Three elephants were killed when they were hit by a local passenger train in upper Assam’s Jorhat district on Thursday. The elephants were killed when the Guwahati-Tinsukia Intercity Express hit them as they were crossing the railway track at Venuguri village near Moriani railway station in a herd, officials said. The elephants were returning to their nearby habitat Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary. While an adult elephant was cut into pieces, a calf died after it was hurled about 500 metres away due to the mishap. Another adult elephant was found dead lying near the train track, officials said, adding that forest personnel have rushed there. Train movement was briefly disrupted on the route. A tiger, which strayed from a sanctuary, was also recently killed after being hit by a train while another elephant was also killed at the place about six months ago.