A devastating collision between a high-speed express train and a herd of wild Asian elephants resulted in seven fatalities, including multiple calves, in northeastern India’s Assam state. The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Hojai district, where railway officials and police subsequently examined the scene, including a covered elephant’s body lying beside the tracks.
According to Northeast Frontier Railway authorities, the train operator spotted dozens of elephants crossing the tracks and immediately engaged emergency braking systems. Despite these urgent measures, the train could not avoid striking several animals from the herd. The impact caused five carriages to derail, though remarkably no human casualties were reported among passengers or crew aboard the Delhi-bound express service.
The aftermath saw significant disruption to regional rail operations, with multiple train cancellations and route diversions implemented throughout the day. Veterinary professionals conducted thorough examinations of the deceased elephants before conducting burial procedures in accordance with wildlife protocols.
This tragedy highlights the ongoing conflict between infrastructure development and wildlife conservation in Assam, which hosts one of India’s largest elephant populations with approximately 6,000 recorded individuals. While elephant herds frequently traverse local railway corridors, officials noted this particular collision occurred outside designated elephant crossing zones, raising questions about preventive measures and habitat protection strategies.