Bhubaneswar: An elephant died after getting hit by a train on the Bissamcuttack-Therubali railway route in Rayagada district late on Wednesday night.
Sources said the jumbo was mowed down by a train engine and its body was found lying about three metres away from the tracks. After receiving information, teams from the Railway Police and the Forest Department rushed to the spot and started an investigation. An elephant squad also reached the location.
Since the carcass was spotted on a slope near the tracks and not on the rail line itself, movement of trains was not disrupted. However, heavy rainfall in the area delayed the rescue operation.
Till the last report came in, Forest Department and railway officials were conducting formalities at the site.
