7 Elephants Killed in Assam After Rajdhani Express Hits Herd
A tragic Assam train accident early Saturday morning claimed the lives of seven elephants, including an adult female, when the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd crossing the tracks in Hojai district. The collision, which occurred near Changjurai village at around 2:17 am, also caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail.
Officials suspect that dense fog in the area drastically reduced visibility, contributing to the accident. While reports initially indicated eight elephant deaths, it was later confirmed that one calf survived but remains critically injured. Fortunately, no passengers sustained injuries.
Dense Fog and Unpredictable Wildlife Movement Cited as Key Factors
According to Suhas Kadam, Divisional Forest Officer of Nagaon, the tragic collision likely occurred because of extremely low visibility caused by thick fog. “The area was under dense fog when the train was passing. The elephants may have been trying to cross the tracks when the train appeared suddenly,” he said.
Forest officials and veterinary teams rushed to the site shortly after the incident. The carcasses of the elephants are being examined and will be cremated near the accident site as part of a standard forest protocol. The injured calf is receiving medical treatment under continuous supervision.
Emergency Braking Failed to Prevent Collision
Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of the North East Frontier Railway (NFR), confirmed that the accident occurred on the Jamunamukh-Kanpur section under the Lumding division, around 126 km from Guwahati. The location is not a designated elephant corridor, which complicates conservation efforts.
“The loco pilot applied emergency brakes upon spotting the herd, but the proximity was too close to prevent impact. The engine and five coaches derailed due to the collision,” Sharma explained.
Environmentalists have renewed calls for better monitoring and fencing along railway lines cutting through known elephant habitats in Assam.
Train Movement Restored After Four Hours
Following the derailment, railway officials immediately shifted passengers from the affected coaches to vacant berths in other compartments. The damaged coaches were later detached, and the train resumed its journey to Guwahati around 6:11 am—roughly four hours after the incident.
Track restoration work began soon after, with officials diverting other trains through an alternate line. Senior railway authorities, including the NFR General Manager and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, visited the site to assess the situation.
The Assam train accident has once again highlighted the ongoing challenge of balancing wildlife conservation with expanding rail connectivity in the region. Experts emphasize the urgent need for early-warning systems and better coordination between forest and railway departments to avoid such tragic losses in the future.
