Wednesday, December 1st

Train kills 2 elephants walking on track in northeast India

People stand around a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train, in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

GAUHATI, India (AP) - A passenger train has hit and killed two wild elephants in northeastern India's Assam state, authorities said Wednesday.

"The two adult elephants were walking on the railway track when the train, on its way to the eastern tea-growing town of Dibrugarh from New Delhi, ran over them, killing them almost immediately," Assam wildlife ranger Dilip Kumar Das said.

The accident occurred late Tuesday, he said. Authorities went to the site, surrounded by thick forests, on Wednesday and buried the bodies after carrying out an autopsy, Das said.

Wild elephants often stray into human habitations this time of year, when rice fields are ready for harvesting, he added.

Speeding trains have hit dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant zones.

Assam has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants.

A wild male elephant, one of two killed after they were hit by a train, lays near a railway track in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. "The two adult elephants were walking on the railway track when the train, on its way to the eastern tea-growing town of Dibrugarh from New Delhi ran over them, killing them almost immediately," Dilip Kumar Das, an Assam Wildlife Ranger said. Wild elephants often stray into human habitations during this time of the year when rice is ready for harvest in the fields, he added. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A man worships a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train, in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman smears vermilion paste on the eye of a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train, in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A forest officer cuts the tusk of a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman arrives with her children to worship a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

People watch preparations to bury two wild elephants killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An excavator lifts a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Excavators remove the body of a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Villagers watch preparations to bury two wild male elephants after they were killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A train runs past a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An excavator buries a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Villagers look at a wild male elephant being buried, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Villagers throw salt to help in decomposing the body of a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Villagers stand around a pit where a wild male elephant is being buried, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman worships a wild male elephant, one of two killed by a train in Durung Pathar, in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Speeding trains have run down dozens of wild elephants in Assam in the past, forcing the Indian Railways, which runs the trains, to regulate speed in known elephant corridors. Assam, which has a history of man-elephant conflict, has an estimated 5,000 wild Asiatic elephants. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)