India Express Train Kills Seven Elephants in Assam Forest

At least seven Asiatic elephants were killed and a young calf injured when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd crossing railway tracks in Hojai district, Assam, early Saturday, officials confirmed.

The New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express, carrying around 650 passengers from Mizoram, struck the elephants at approximately 2:17 a.m. local time in a forested area not officially designated as an elephant corridor.

Despite the train driver applying emergency brakes upon spotting the herd, several animals were hit, causing the locomotive and five coaches to derail. No human injuries were reported.

Undamaged coaches were detached, and affected passengers were rerouted to Guwahati by another train.

Wildlife veterinarians performed post-mortems on the elephant carcasses before burial, and the injured calf was taken to a nearby wildlife facility for treatment.

Authorities said the accident underscores growing concerns over train-animal collisions in Assam, home to one of India’s largest populations of wild Asian elephants.

Collisions between trains and elephants have become increasingly frequent, particularly during dry seasons when herds migrate in search of food and water.

While the accident site was not a formal elephant corridor, conservationists argue that existing measures are insufficient to protect wildlife along railways that cut through natural habitats.

Indian railways and forest officials are under pressure to implement better safeguards, including AI-based intrusion detection systems, geofencing alerts, and mapping of habitual animal movement routes to inform speed restrictions or temporary service adjustments.

Environmental groups emphasized that protecting elephants, a keystone species, is vital for biodiversity and for preventing costly disruptions and tragedies involving both wildlife and rail operations.

Authorities have pledged to review safety protocols and expand mitigation measures along known animal crossing zones.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing rapid rail transportation with wildlife conservation in regions where critical habitats intersect with human infrastructure.