Daily Mail
August 9, 2013
It is said that elephants never forget, and following an incredible series of events in eastern India last week it would appear they don’t forgive easily either.
When one of their number was struck and killed by a passenger train, a grieving herd went on the rampage carrying out a series of revenge attacks on nearby villages.
The elephant was killed when it was hit by the Kolkata-Delhi Duronto Express near the village of Matari on Wednesday last week.
The herd of about 15 elephants appeared to grieve for their fallen comrade, hanging round the spot where it was killed.
Foresters initially managed to chase them off by bursting crackers but they didn’t go far and refused to leave the surrounding area.
Then on Thursday night they attempted to return to the spot near Matari railway station where their friend had been killed.
Local villagers, however, had kept a vigil and kept them at bay by bursting crackers and hitting drums.
The following night elephants hit back rampaging into nearby Belwatand village where they damaged several houses.