Ramesh to visit site where train killed tuskers

NEW DELHI - Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will Thursday visit the location in Jalpaiguri in West Bengal where seven elephants were mowed down by a freight train last week.

“I am really pained by the incident and will be visiting the location to understand what measures can be taken so that such incidents are avoided in future,” said Ramesh.

The minister said that things have to be sorted out as several such animal deaths were reported from areas covered under the Northeast Frontier Railways.

Seven elephants were mowed down Sep 22 night by a speeding freight train in Binnaguri and Banarhat stations of Alipurduar division in Jalpaiguri.

According to railway officials, they had no prior information from forest officials about the movement of elephant herd in what they called a ‘denotified’ area, where the accident took place Wednesday night.

In a notified forested area, known as an elephant corridor, railway drivers drive trains very slowly, blowing the whistle constantly to warn the animals, said an official.