The injured elephant calf that was rescued by forest officials on Thursday morning. Telegraph picture

Keonjhar, Aug. 16: Two elephants were killed when a goods train rammed into them last night at Bandhubeda between Nayagarh and Jurudi railway stations. The driver of the train, Goutam Patel, was arrested today.

The coal-laden train was on its way to Jamshedpur from Paradip when the mishap occurred. While a 10-year-old tusker and a 40-year-old female elephant died on the spot, a calf was injured after being flung into a drain near the tracks. Forest officials rescued the calf this morning.

Patel said he tried to stop the train after seeing a herd of elephants crossing the tracks, but was unsuccessful.

“I saw the elephants crossing the tracks near the Rungta railway side around 10.30pm yesterday. I blew the horn immediately and pressed the emergency brakes, but could not stop the train,” said Patel.

Keonjhar divisional forest officer Ajay Kumar Jena said after the arrest of the driver, the train was detained at Jurudi railway station. Forest officials said the speed limit of trains passing through forest tracts was 30kmph. An investigation would be conducted to find out if the train was moving at the stipulated speed.

The rescued calf was released into the forest after preliminary treatment. A 15-member squad has been constituted to keep a tab on its movements and find out whether the herd accepts it.

Forest officials have lodged an FIR with Bamberi police station under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Earlier, in 2007, a train driver was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act after the engine knocked down two elephants at Gurbeda in Champua forest range. However, he was acquitted after investigation.