Keonjhar: Two elephants were killed while another sustained injuries after being hit by an iron-laden truck on NH-20 near Balijodi village under Ghatagaon forest range in Keonjhar district late Wednesday night.
According to forest officials, the accident occurred when a herd of elephant was crossing the road. The driver of a speeding 14-wheeler truck which was en-route to Ghatagaon from Jajpur failed to spot the elephants on the road and ended up hitting them.
While two elephants died on the spot following the accident, a calf sustained grievous injuries after coming under the 14-wheeler. The driver and his helper fled the scene following the accident.
On being informed, forest officials reached to the spot and sent the injured calf for treatment. The truck has been seized and the authorities have begun an investigation to nab the perpetrators.
PNN