Assam: A tragic accident involving wildlife and rail traffic unfolded in Assam early Saturday morning, leaving eight elephants dead and one injured after a speeding passenger train ploughed into a herd crossing the tracks in Hojai district.
Officials said the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck the elephants at around 2.17 am in the Changjurai area. The impact was severe enough to derail the train’s engine along with five coaches. Despite the derailment, railway authorities confirmed that none of the passengers or crew members sustained injuries.
Forest department personnel rushed to the site soon after receiving information about the incident. Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer Suhash Kadam said senior officials were monitoring the situation on the ground and assessing the condition of the injured elephant, while steps were being taken to manage the aftermath.
The collision also disrupted rail movement in the region. According to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), trains passing through the Jamunamukh–Kampur stretch were temporarily rerouted via the UP line as restoration and safety work began on the affected track.
The Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express operates between Sairang, near Aizawl in Mizoram, and Anand Vihar Terminal in the national capital. The incident has once again drawn attention to the long-standing issue of train–wildlife collisions in elephant corridors across Assam, where herds frequently move between forested areas.
Authorities are expected to review safety measures along vulnerable railway sections to prevent similar incidents in the future, as conservationists renew calls for stronger safeguards to protect wildlife in high-risk zones.
