Harichandanpur/Keonjhar: In a tragic mishap, two elephants including a female one died while another suffered serious injuries after they collided with a train on the Jakhapura Bansapani rail line in Harichandanpur block of Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday. The accident took place near Balidanda village of Tangiriapal panchayat in the block which comes under  Brahmanipal range of Anandpur wildlife division.

As per reports, a five-member jumbo herd was crossing the rail line near Ambadhara canal between Tangiriapal-Sagadapatta on Monday night when three of them collided with a speeding train. While two of them died on the spot under the impact of the collision, another was critically hurt. After the incident came to the fore in the morning, senior forest officials reached the spot for inquiry. It is still uncertain whether the pachyderms were hit by a passenger or goods train, official sources informed.

A few months back, three elephants had died in a similar manner near Bansapani. As such cases continue to be reported, the issue has emerged as a major concern for both Railways and the forest department.