At least seven elephants were killed and a calf injured after the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a large herd in Assam’s Hojai district early Saturday, triggering the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches and causing widespread disruption to rail services across the Northeast.
The accident occurred around 2.17 am in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division, approximately 126 km from Guwahati, officials said. No passengers were injured.
According to the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the loco pilot spotted a herd of nearly 100 elephants crossing the tracks and immediately applied emergency brakes. Despite this, several elephants collided with the train, leading to fatalities and derailment.
Chief Public Relations Officer of NFR, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said the pilot’s action prevented a larger tragedy.
“The loco pilot applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd. This decision prevented any passenger casualties,” Sharma said.
Chief Minister Orders Probe, Calls for Stronger Safeguards
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep sorrow over the incident and ordered a comprehensive investigation.
“We are deeply saddened by the death of seven elephants — three adults and four calves — in a tragic train collision,” Sarma said in a post on X.
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“I have directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry and take steps to further secure wildlife corridors, especially during low-visibility seasons.”
Officials clarified that the site of the accident is not a designated elephant corridor.
Rail Services Hit, Trains Cancelled and Regulated
Rail traffic in the Lumding–Guwahati section was severely affected as elephant remains and derailed coaches blocked the tracks. Accident relief trains were rushed to the site.
Passengers from affected coaches were temporarily shifted to vacant berths in other coaches. The train resumed movement after reorganisation and was scheduled to be fully restored after reaching Guwahati.
According to NFR:
- 9 trains were cancelled
- 13 trains were regulated
- 2 trains were short-terminated
Several key trains connecting Upper Assam and the Northeast were impacted.
Rising Concern Over Train–Elephant Collisions
The incident has once again highlighted the growing human–wildlife conflict along railway tracks. Parliament was informed earlier this year that 79 elephants have died in train accidents across India over the past five years.
The Environment Ministry has said mitigation measures include speed restrictions in elephant habitats, seismic sensors, underpasses, fencing, and wildlife monitoring systems. However, conservationists continue to flag gaps in implementation.
A Grim Reminder for Wildlife Protection
Saturday’s collision underscores the urgent need for stronger coordination between forest and railway authorities, particularly in regions with dense elephant populations. With rail traffic expanding across ecologically sensitive zones, experts warn that without sustained mitigation, such tragedies may continue.
