In a tragic train accident early Saturday, the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd of wild elephants in Hojai district of Assam, resulting in the death of seven to eight elephants and injuries to a young calf, officials confirmed.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:17 am on the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway. Despite the loco pilot’s efforts to apply emergency brakes upon spotting the herd on the tracks, the train could not avoid the collision.
The impact was strong enough to derail the locomotive and five coaches of the Rajdhani Express, disrupting rail operations in parts of the Northeast. Fortunately, no passengers or railway staff were reported injured in the accident.
Railway officials and accident relief teams immediately rushed to the scene to carry out rescue and restoration work. Passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily shifted to other compartments, and the train later resumed its journey after additional coaches were attached at Guwahati.
The collision site is not located in a designated elephant corridor, according to railway authorities, making the incident particularly distressing for wildlife conservationists.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed sorrow over the deaths and instructed a detailed investigation to prevent such incidents in the future. Officials are also exploring measures to enhance coordination between the Forest Department and railways to better protect elephants, especially during low visibility periods like winter nights.
This is not the first such accident; over the past few years, more than 80 elephants have been reported killed in train collisions across the country, according to government data.