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7 elephants killed in train collision in northeast India

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Credit: NDTV

A Delhi-bound passenger train has collided with a herd of elephants in northeast India, killing at least seven of the wild animals and causing some of the carriages to derail, according to local officials.

The incident happened at around 2:17 a.m. on Saturday when the Rajdhani Express Train No. 20507, traveling between Sairang and New Delhi, hit at least eight elephants in the Hojai district of Assam state.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said seven elephants were killed, including three adults and four calves. There were conflicting reports about the condition of the eighth elephant.

Northeast Frontier Railway said the collision caused the locomotive and five carriages to derail, but none of the passengers were injured. The train resumed its journey at 6:11 a.m. after the affected carriages were decoupled.

“The incident took place at a location which is not designated elephant corridor,” the rail company said in a statement. “The loco pilot on observing the herd of elephants applied emergency brakes. However elephants dashed with the train.”

Sarma said he was “deeply saddened” by Saturday’s train accident.

“I have directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry on this deeply disturbing accident and take steps to further secure our wildlife corridors, particularly during low visibility seasons,” he said.

At least 86 elephants have been killed in train collisions across India since 2020, according to the environment ministry. Measures, such as sensor-based detection systems, have been taken at some locations to reduce accidents.

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