Tragic Collision in Assam's Hojai District

Eight Asiatic elephants perished after the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd crossing railway tracks in Assam's Hojai district early Saturday. The incident occurred at 2:17 am in the Changjurai area when approximately 100 elephants were moving across the tracks.

Aftermath and Investigation

The train driver applied emergency brakes upon spotting the herd, but the collision was unavoidable. The impact caused five coaches and the locomotive to derail. Remarkably, no passengers traveling from Mizoram to Delhi sustained injuries. Both drivers were briefly detained before being released later that same day.

A young elephant initially survived the collision but later died while receiving care at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga, bringing the final death toll to eight. Authorities have filed a case, and the forest division has launched an independent investigation.

Ongoing Threat to Wildlife

Northeast Frontier Railway officials noted the accident site is not a recognized elephant corridor. Such collisions are unfortunately common in Assam, home to roughly 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants. Since 2020, train accidents have claimed at least a dozen elephant lives in the state.

Indian government statistics indicate an average of 20 elephants die annually in train collisions, often occurring when animals attempt to cross tracks that intersect their natural habitats. Asiatic elephants are classified as endangered, with a global wild population estimated between 30,000 and 50,000.