A tragic incident occurred early on Saturday morning when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd of elephants in Assam, India, resulting in the deaths of seven wild Asiatic elephants. The accident took place approximately 125 kilometers (78 miles) southeast of Guwahati, the state capital, as the elephants attempted to cross the railway tracks.
According to Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the train driver noticed the herd, which consisted of around 100 elephants, and engaged the emergency brakes. Despite these efforts, the train still struck several of the animals. Following the collision, five train coaches along with the engine derailed. Fortunately, there were no human casualties reported.
Veterinarians conducted autopsies on the deceased elephants, and arrangements were made to bury them later in the day. The area where the accident occurred is known for its dense forests, which are frequented by elephants. However, Indian Railways confirmed that this specific location was not designated as an elephant corridor.
The train involved in the accident was the Rajdhani Express, which was traveling from Sairang in Mizoram, bordering Myanmar, to the national capital of New Delhi. At the time of the incident, the train was carrying approximately 650 passengers. Following the accident, the railway authorities were able to detach the derailed coaches and resume the journey to New Delhi. Around 200 passengers from the affected coaches were transferred to a different train to continue their journey to Guwahati.
Incidents involving trains colliding with wild elephants are not uncommon in Assam, which is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the highest concentrations of these animals in India. Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have lost their lives due to train collisions in the state. The timing of these incidents often coincides with the harvest season, when elephants tend to stray into human settlements in search of food, particularly rice fields.
The ongoing challenges of human-wildlife conflict in Assam highlight the need for more effective measures to safeguard both wildlife and train operations. As the state grapples with balancing development and conservation, incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by wildlife in the region.
