Rajdhani express hits Elephant Herd in Assam, seven killed, coaches derail

At least seven elephants were killed and one was injured after a herd was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district early Saturday, officials said. The impact caused the derailment of the train’s engine and five coaches, though no passengers were injured in the accident.

The collision occurred at around 2.17 am near Changjurai village in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section under the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). The location is approximately 126 km from Guwahati . Forest officials initially reported eight elephant deaths, but later clarified that one animal survived with injuries and is undergoing treatment.

Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer Suhash Kadam said heavy fog in the area is suspected to have contributed to the accident. “Autopsy of the seven dead elephants is underway, and treatment is being provided to the injured one by local veterinary doctors. Cremation will be carried out near the accident site, following all legal formalities,” he said.

Railway officials confirmed that the derailment caused temporary disruption to services but did not result in any human casualties. NFR chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the train driver applied emergency brakes upon spotting the elephants on the track, but the collision could not be avoided. He added that the accident site is not a designated elephant corridor .

Relief and restoration teams, along with senior railway officials from the Lumding division, reached the site soon after the incident. The NFR general manager and the divisional railway manager also rushed to oversee operations. Helpline numbers were activated at Guwahati railway station to assist passengers.

Passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths in other compartments. The Rajdhani Express, after detaching the derailed coaches, resumed its journey towards Guwahati at 6.11 am . Additional coaches are being added at Guwahati, after which the train will continue its onward journey to Delhi. Trains passing through the affected section have been diverted, and restoration work is underway.

The incident once again highlights the growing concern over wildlife fatalities caused by train movements in Assam , a state that frequently witnesses human-animal conflict due to expanding transport infrastructure intersecting forested areas. According to official and conservation records, several dozen wild animals, including elephants, were killed in train-related accidents across Assam last year , prompting repeated calls for stricter speed regulations, improved visibility measures and enhanced coordination between railway and forest authorities.The Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Mizoram’s Sairang, near Aizawl, to the Anand Vihar Terminal in the national capital.