Maligaon, December 11 (MExN): The NF Railways today issued a press statement with regard to the December 10 incident wherein a herd of elephants was knocked over and killed by a train. The release said that the area is not known for elephant movements and is at least 4 kms from notified elephant corridors. The nearest such elephant corridors are at Km 131 and Km 144 where speed of all trains are routinely controlled and drivers are advised to be on alert. “The herd of elephants entered the railway track by breaking barriers at a level crossing, but by such time the train was already in the section and it was impossible to stop the train. The driver and co-driver of the train involved in the accident showed remarkable presence of mind, and as soon as they spotted the herd of elephants they reduced the speed of the train without compromising safety of the passengers as sudden and excessive braking could have resulted in derailment of the train. However, despite all efforts, the train knocked down five elephants which were killed,” the NF Railways explained. It meanwhile reminded that a group of railway and forest officials had created a social media platform sometimes back for sharing information on movements of wild elephants near railway track. However, there was no information on sighting of wild elephants in the group before the accident, it added. Following the accident, Rangiya Division has unilaterally imposed a speed restriction of non-stop 30 kmph at the site of accident.