Protest over rail elephant deaths in India

India's environment minister is pressing railway authorities to ensure the safety of elephants after seven of the animals were mowed down by a train.

The herd was crossing the tracks in Banarhat forest in West Bengal at midnight on Wednesday when the freight train hit the animals, killing them all.

"This is not the first time such a mishap has taken place, although the scale with which it has taken place now is unprecedented," environment minister Jairam Ramesh said.

Mr Ramesh said he had previously written letters to the railway minister and met with rail officials to discuss "measures to be taken in order to avoid such tragedies".