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Some of the cattle heads mowed down by Guruvayur-Chennai Express on Monday | Express
Over 55 cows, moving over the railway track between Samayanallur and Sholavandan railway stations were killed as the Guruvayur-Chennai Express ran over the herd on Monday,
According to the police the incident occurred around 11 am, when a herd of nearly 200 cows were crossing the railway track around 100 metres away from an unmanned level crossing near the Kallupuli to Thenur road.
The railway department officials said it was an act of complete negligence on the part of the shepherd, who
drove the cattle across the railway track having paddy fields on either side.
According to them “As the Express train unexpectedly came on the track, the cows panicked due to the loud horn of the train. As both sides were covered by paddy fields and the slope was very steep, they started running helter-skelter on the track.”
The train moving towards Chennai, was halted on the spot and was delayed by 30 minutes due to the accident. None of the passengers was hurt and the track was not damaged in the incident, said the Railway officials. There was no delay in the onward journey, they said.
The remaining cattle without proper direction are wandering around Thiruvalvayanallur village, as the cattle grazer had fled from the spot after the incident. Police are in search of the grazer, who abandoned the cows.
55 cattle mowed down by train - The New Indian Express