TNI Bureau: An FIR has been filed against the driver of the train that killed six elephants near Subalaya in Rambha in Odisha’s Ganjam district. Forest & Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray said that strong action will be taken against the train driver for the incident.

However, blame game began between the State Forest & Environment ministry and Railways officials over the tragedy that occurred late on Saturday night.

While Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) JD Sharma said that the Ranger Officer had informed the Divisional Railway Manager office about the movement of an elephant about 15 to 20 minutes before the accident, the Rambha station officials said their helplessness as the Coromandel Express had already left the station after they received the information.

However, the accident could have been averted if the railway officials acted in time by giving the train driver a wireless message. The train was running at 110 to 120 km per hour. But the Railways refuted the allegations saying, they received the message at 12:43 am when the accident occurred. The train was moving from Howrah to Chennai.