Rajdhani Express collision with herd of elephants in Assam kills eight

A tragic incident occurred in Assam’s Hojai district early on Saturday when the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd of elephants crossing the track. The collision resulted in the death of eight elephants and left one injured. While several coaches of the train were derailed in the accident, no human casualties have been reported so far.

Details of the incident

According to an official statement by the Northeast Frontier Railway, the accident took place at around 2.15 in the morning. The herd suddenly appeared on the tracks as the train approached at high speed. The loco pilot spotted the animals and immediately applied the emergency brakes, but the train could not be stopped in time to avoid the collision. The impact was severe enough to derail five coaches and disrupt movement on the affected section of the line.

Immediate response and rescue

The Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, under which the area falls, swung into action soon after the accident. Senior officers, including the General Manager and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, rushed to the site to supervise rescue operations. Railway personnel provided assistance to the passengers, many of whom were shifted to empty berths in other carriages. The damaged sections of the track were quickly inspected to ensure further safety.

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The Rajdhani Express resumed its journey towards Guwahati after a halt of nearly four hours, departing the accident site around 6.15 in the morning. Officials later confirmed that additional coaches would be attached to the train at Guwahati to accommodate all passengers before it continued to its destination.

Impact on railway operations

The collision caused significant disruption in train movement along the Jamunamukh to Kampur route. Several scheduled trains were diverted to the UP line to ease congestion and maintain traffic flow. The section remained under close monitoring throughout the day as railway teams coordinated with forest officials to clear debris and restore services.

Forest department action

Forest personnel from Assam’s Nagaon Division, led by official Subhash Kadam, reached the spot soon after the accident. They assisted in removing the dead elephants and providing medical attention to the injured one. Restoration work began under the supervision of both the forest department and railway authorities to reopen the affected section at the earliest.

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The incident has once again drawn attention to the growing challenge of ensuring safe passage for wildlife in Assam’s railway zones, especially in regions where tracks intersect elephant corridors.