A tragic incident occurred early on March 15, 2024, in Assam, India, when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd of wild Asiatic elephants, resulting in the deaths of seven elephants and injuring a calf. The collision took place as the herd, which consisted of approximately 100 elephants, was crossing the railway tracks in a forested area located about 78 miles southeast of Guwahati, the state’s capital.
According to Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, the train driver noticed the herd and activated the emergency brakes. Despite this effort, the train struck several elephants. The impact was severe enough to derail five train coaches and the engine, although no human injuries were reported among the 650 passengers on board the Rajdhani Express, which was traveling from Sairang in Mizoram to New Delhi.
Following the collision, the railway authorities took immediate action to ensure passenger safety. “We delinked the coaches that were not derailed, and the train resumed its journey for New Delhi,” Sharma stated. Passengers from the derailed coaches were transferred to another train heading to Guwahati.
Concerns Over Elephant Safety
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of elephants in India, especially in regions like Assam, which is home to around 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants—one of the highest concentrations in the country. A troubling pattern has emerged, as at least a dozen elephants have been killed in train accidents across Assam since 2020. Government data indicates that, on average, 20 elephants per year lose their lives due to collisions with trains, primarily when these animals cross railway lines that intersect their natural habitats.
Despite the frequent presence of elephants in this area, Indian Railways noted that the specific location of the accident was not designated as an elephant corridor. In contrast, trains traversing the nation’s 150 designated wildlife corridors are mandated to reduce their speed to minimize the risk of collisions with wildlife.
In an effort to mitigate such incidents, the country recently inaugurated an elephant hospital in Mathura, aimed at providing care for injured elephants. Additionally, the southern state of Tamil Nadu has implemented an artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled surveillance system designed to monitor railway tracks and prevent elephant deaths.
Human-Wildlife Interaction
This time of year is particularly critical as wild elephants often wander into human settlements while searching for food, especially rice fields that are nearing harvest. The increasing interaction between elephants and human populations raises significant challenges for both wildlife conservation and railway safety.
As the investigation into the recent accident continues, authorities are urged to take further steps to protect these majestic creatures and ensure their safe passage across their natural habitats. The loss of seven elephants not only impacts the local ecosystem but also serves as a stark reminder of the need for enhanced measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
