New Delhi, Dec 20: At least seven elephants were killed, and one calf was injured after a herd collided with the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district on Saturday morning, leading to significant disruption of rail services. The incident occurred around 2:17 a.m. when the New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express struck a herd of elephants crossing the railway tracks.
Forest authorities confirmed that seven elephants were killed, and one calf, found injured, was rescued and provided medical treatment. The collision also caused a few coaches of the train to derail. Fortunately, no passengers or railway staff were injured in the accident.
The Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang near Aizawl in Mizoram with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi. The accident took place approximately 126 kilometers from Guwahati. Following the collision, railway officials and accident relief teams were quickly dispatched to the scene to manage rescue operations and assess the damage.
The incident led to significant disruptions in rail services, particularly to Upper Assam and other parts of Northeast India. Several trains were diverted via alternative routes to minimize passenger inconvenience. Passengers traveling in the derailed coaches were temporarily shifted to vacant berths in other coaches.
The incident, which did not occur in a designated elephant corridor, has raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region, particularly with railways running through forested areas. Restoration work is ongoing, and authorities are working to clear the tracks and resume normal train operations.
