Speeding train runs into nilgai herd, mows down 14

AGRA: In a shocking accident, more than a dozen nilgais, Asia's largest antelope, were mowed down by a speeding Kasganj-Farrukhabad passenger train near Kampil jungle, about 148 km from Agra. The animals were in a herd of 35 and crossing the tracks late Friday evening when when the mishap occurred.
A total of 14 nilgais were killed while many other animals were stuck under the train's engine for hours before they were rescued by Railways' quick reaction team.
According to senior superintendent of police (GRP) Gopeshnath Khanna, "No human causality or derailment of the train was reported, even though the front part of the engine suffered massive loss, as it dragged bodies of the antelopes for several hundred metres."
Station-in-charge (GRP) at Kaimganj Umesh Chandra added, "When we reached the spot, we saw scores of amputated body parts of the animals strewn along the track while some animals were still stuck under the engine. The scene was gruesome and the diesel engine's frontal part was damaged."
A quick reaction team was then sent to Kampil jungle area and with the help of local villagers, the members removed the bodies and buried them in the nearby fields so as to avoid any kind of obstruction on the railway track and to avoid air pollution from decomposition of bodies.
Chandra added, "The incident occurred around 8.30pm. A distress call saying some animals were mowed down was received from loco pilot of the train, Ashok Kumar. The train was at its peak speed of nearly 55 km per hour at the time of accident."
Talking to TOI, Rajendar Singh, spokesperson of North-Eastern Railway's Izzatnagar division, said, "The engine of the passenger train was changed and it was only after more than an hour that the train was given the green signal. Meanwhile, other trains on the route were also delayed for nearly an hour."