New Delhi, Dec. 20 -- Rajya Sabha MP Sukhedu Sekhar Roy, in a letter to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday, drew attention to the deaths of seven elephants, including four calves in Assam, noting that such incidents recur due to trains exceeding speed limits in designated elephant corridors.

Roy noted that at 2:17 AM on December 20, the Sairang-New Delhi Anand Bihar Express struck a herd of elephants crossing their ancient forest path in Hojai district, Lamding Division, North Frontier Railway. He described these deaths not as accidents but as the result of human negligence, pointing out that speeding trains have become a recurring threat to elephants and other wildlife.

"You are aware that 8(eight) elephants including a calf...