Haldwani, March 1 -- Two men on a motorcycle died on Saturday night after the two-wheeler struck an elephant crossing the road in the Tanda forest of Nainital district, officials said on Sunday.

Police said the victims, who were travelling from Haldwani to Rudrapur 30km away, possibly did not spot the elephant on the Rampur Road till it was too late. The victims have been identified by the police as vendors from a nearby settlement, Shakeel, 26, and Jafar, 28. The two were from Shahjahanpur district in Uttar Pradesh, and were currently living in Haldwani's Gafur Basti.

"Late on Saturday night, we received information that a motorcycle had collided with an elephant near Tanda on Rampur Road. A police team rushed to the spot and shifted t...