An elephant was run over by a train in the Sambalpur district of Orissa on Monday morning. The front trolley of the Puri-Surat Special Express train derailed after hitting the elephant, news agency ANI reported. The incident occurred around 2 am on Monday morning, a Sambalpur forest official told ANI.

“At around 2 am today, an elephant was killed after being hit by the Puri-Surat Special Express train. An inquiry has been initiated in this matter,” said Sanjeev Kumar, District Forest Officer, Sambalpur, Odisha.

According to reports, no passenger was hurt in the accident. Both the driver and his assistant are also safe.

According to the East Coast Railway (ECoR) official, the Puri-Surat Express, which was moving at a speed of 50km per hour along an elephant corridor, hit the tusker at 2.04 am near Bhabanipali village, between Hatibari and Maneswar railway stations.

The Surat-bound train had left Hatibari at 1.55 am.

The train subsequently retreated to Hatibari, and the old engine was replaced with a new one.

Light refreshments were provided to the passengers, as officials took time to clear the tracks.

Earlier this month, a 12-year-old jumbo died after being hit by an express train. In the last 10 years, nearly 28 elephants have been killed after getting hit by trains in Odisha.