A tragic incident occurred in Assam, India, where a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd of elephants on the tracks, resulting in the deaths of seven wild Asiatic elephants and injuring a calf. The accident took place early on Saturday as the herd, consisting of approximately 100 elephants, attempted to cross the railway tracks.
The train driver noticed the elephants and activated the emergency brakes, but the train was unable to stop in time. According to Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, a spokesman for Indian Railways, five train coaches and the engine derailed due to the impact. Fortunately, there were no human casualties reported in the incident.
Veterinarians conducted autopsies on the deceased elephants, which were later scheduled to be buried at the site. The accident happened in a forested region, roughly 120 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, Assam’s capital city. While railway tracks in the state are known to be frequented by elephants, Indian Railways clarified that the location of the accident was not designated as an elephant corridor.
Details of the Incident
The Rajdhani Express train, which was traveling from Sairang in Mizoram state towards the national capital, New Delhi, had around 650 passengers on board at the time of the collision. Following the accident, officials took immediate action. Sharma mentioned, “We delinked the coaches which were not derailed, and the train resumed its journey for New Delhi.” Meanwhile, approximately 200 passengers who were in the five derailed coaches were transferred to Guwahati via a different train.
Assam is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the highest concentrations of elephants in India. Unfortunately, incidents involving speeding trains and elephants are not uncommon in the region. Since 2020, there have been at least a dozen documented cases of elephants being killed by trains across Assam.
This time of year is particularly critical for elephants as they often wander into agricultural areas, drawn by the availability of food, especially when rice fields are ready for harvesting. The ongoing interactions between wildlife and human habitats highlight the need for increased awareness and measures to protect these majestic creatures.
The incident underscores the importance of implementing safety measures to prevent further tragedies in regions where wildlife frequently intersects with human infrastructure.
