As many as 70 sheep were killed when the Shatabdi Express ploughed into the herd near Chamanahalli Cross, near Maddur railway station, in the district on Thursday.
According to Railway Protection Force (RPF) sources, the train did not stop on the spot because there was no damage to the engine, the train or the tracks.
Three farmers – Krishna, Basavaraju and Nagaraju – from Muthagere and Bannahatti near Pandavapura were near the track with their animals when the incident took place. The train, which was heading to Mysuru, blew the sirens as it was approaching Maddur railway station. The sound caused panic among the animals, which were drinking water from a ditch next to the track. They ran towards the track and were hit by the train, Government Railway Police (GRP), Bengaluru, sources said.
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The farmers said that they incurred a loss of at least Rs. 9 lakh due to the incident.
Railway, Revenue and Police officials inspected the spot and further investigation is on.
The animals, belonging to three farmers, were drinking water from a nearby ditch
The sound of the approaching train triggered panic in them and they ran onto the track