Kolkata (PTI): Alarmed over the killing of elephants by speeding trains in Dooars area of North Bengal, the Union Forest and Environment ministry has formed a seven-member committee to study and recommend steps to check such incidents.

"At least 10 elephants were killed by speeding trains on railway tracks in the Dooars region since 2006. Union Forest and Environment ministry was approached to look into such incidents, following which it formed a seven-member committee," Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) in West Bengal Ujjwal Bhattacharjee told PTI here.

The WWF-India, West Bengal, which had conducted a survey in North Bengal, also recommended some steps including restriction of the speed of trains and increased alertness to save elephants.

The agency in its report said from west to east, railway lines of NF Railway passed through forests for 74 km including three sanctuaries -- Mahananda, Chapramari and Jaldapara and buffer areas of four forest divisions with 36 per cent of major migration paths of elephants cutting across tracks at various places.

Bhattacharjee said the committee included members from the Railways, Director, Project Elephant and Prof R Sukumar, an Asian elephant expert, among others.

The committee, after the field visit, would give its recommendations to prevent pachyderm deaths by speeding trains, he said.

The committee, Bhattacharjee said, would study the vulnerable points from Mahananda to Buxa in North Bengal where elephants fall victims, before suggesting steps.

The West Bengal Forest department, he said, had identified 16 vulnerable spots from forest to non-forest areas where elephants migrated mainly between September-October and February-March every year.

Six elephants were killed in 2006 and another four in 2007 by speeding trains, he said.

WWF-India in its report said that not only elephants, but gaur, leopard, civet and even peafowl were also killed by trains.

It said that analysis of available date indicated that 33 per cent hits were in the early morning, 42 per cent in the evening and around 17 per cent at midnight.

Bhattacharjee said the forest department would also give its suggestions about North Begal where also railway tracks passed through elephant corridors.

The suggestions would include checking the speed limit of trains and construction of guard walls in accident prone zones. "But the Railways have to agree to the suggestions," he said.