In the early hours of Friday, a wild elephant was killed after being struck by the Kanyakumari-Dibrugarh Vivek Express at Kanjikode in the Palakkad district along the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
The female jumbo was reportedly around 20 years old. According to the forest authority, searches were conducted in the immediate vicinity to see if any further elephants were hurt. Following the mishap, the train proceeded on its route as loco drivers reported the incident to surrounding stations. The elephant and its youngster had been camped in the region for a while, according to a local who wished to remain unnamed.
The loco pilot will be called, and his statement will be taken down. We'll also look at the train's speed at the time of the accident, said a senior forest department official. A K Saseendran, the state's minister of forests, has also requested a report from the authorities.