Seven Elephants Killed, Train Derailed After Rajdhani Express Hits Herd in Assam

At least seven elephants were killed and one seriously injured early Saturday after the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd in Assam’s Hojai district, triggering the derailment of the train’s engine and five coaches. While no passengers were hurt, the incident has once again highlighted the persistent conflict between rail operations and wildlife movement in India’s Northeast.

---

What Happened

According to officials, the accident occurred at 2.17 am near Changjurai village in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), around 126 km from Guwahati.

Initial reports suggested all eight elephants in the herd had died, but forest officials later confirmed that seven elephants were killed, while one was found alive but injured.

---

Fog Suspected as a Factor

The Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer, Suhash Kadam, told news agency PTI that heavy fog in the area is suspected to have played a role in the collision.
Post-mortem examinations of the dead elephants are underway, while the injured elephant is being treated by local veterinary teams. Forest authorities said the animals will be cremated near the site after completing legal procedures.

---

Railways’ Version

NFR chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the accident did not occur in a notified elephant corridor. He stated that the train’s loco pilot applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd, but the elephants moved into the path of the train, resulting in the collision.

Senior railway officials, including the NFR General Manager and the Lumding Divisional Railway Manager, rushed to the spot. Accident relief trains were also deployed, and restoration work began immediately.

---

Impact on Passengers and Services

Railway officials confirmed that no passengers were injured. Travelers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths of other compartments. The Rajdhani Express, without the derailed coaches, departed for Guwahati at 6.11 am. Additional coaches are to be attached at Guwahati before the train resumes its onward journey to Anand Vihar Terminal, Delhi.

Helpline numbers — 0361-2731621 / 2731622 / 2731623 — were activated at Guwahati railway station for passenger assistance.

---

Widespread Train Disruptions

The derailment caused major disruption to rail traffic in the Lumding–Guwahati section:

• 9 trains cancelled

• 13 trains regulated

• 2 trains short-terminated

Cancelled services include the Rangiya–New Tinsukia Express, Guwahati–Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express, and Guwahati–Badarpur Vistadome Express. Several long-distance trains, including the Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express and Kanchanjunga Express, were delayed.

---

Why This Matters

Elephant deaths due to train collisions remain a serious concern, particularly in Assam and West Bengal, where rail lines often cut across forested landscapes. Conservation experts have repeatedly called for speed restrictions, early-warning systems, and better coordination between forest and railway authorities, especially during fog-prone winter months.

Although railways have implemented mitigation measures in some corridors, incidents like this underline the need for stronger wildlife-protection protocols to balance infrastructure growth with ecological safety.