New Delhi/Kolkata, July 19 -- Three elephants, including two calves, were run over by a train near the Banstola station in West Bengal, officials said on Friday, with witnesses adding that elephants were being chased by a hulla party from the Jhargram area of the district when they reached the railway tracks where they were mowed down. Officials from the forest department alleged that they alerted the railway department about the movement of the elephants, but the speed of the trains passing through that stretch was not reduced. The officials also denied involvement of the hulla party. The incident took place shortly after midnight on Friday, when the elephants, part of a larger herd, that probably came from Jharkhand's Dalma forest was traversing, police said. "Three elephants - a female elephant, its calf and a sub-adult - were killed on the railway tracks between Sardiha and Banshtola stations in Jhargram district in the early hours of Friday," said Sandeep Sundriyal, chief wildlife warden of West Bengal. Chief conservator of forests S Kulandaive said it was an unfortunate incident, and despite informing the Railways "three hours before the movement of the herd", the tragedy could not be averted. "This is the common corridor of herds coming from the Dalma Forest range in Jharkhand to this part of West Bengal, and as per the standard protocol, a group of forest and railway officials monitor the situation so that no mishaps occur. The divisional forest officer and other senior officials have inspected the spot, and we will initiate every step to stop the recurrence of such incidents," he said. There are some stretches, such as an 11-km stretch in Gidhni, where speed restrictions are maintained throughout the year. In other areas, the train speed is restricted depending on elephant movements. "Preliminary investigation suggests that two trains could be involved and there were no speed restrictions," said an officer from Jhargram. The railway authorities, however, said that the elephants were hit by the Howrah-bound Janshatabdi Express around 12:50 am. The deaths triggered outcry from animal rights activists....