Date: December 20, 2025

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Hojai, Assam — In a tragic wildlife accident early Saturday morning, at least seven wild elephants were killed and one calf injured after a high-speed Rajdhani Express passenger train collided with a herd crossing the railway tracks in Assam’s Hojai district.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:17 a.m. between Jamunamukh and Kampur in the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway when the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck the animals as they were moving across the tracks.

Derailment, Rescue Operations, and Passenger Safety

The impact caused the locomotive and five coaches of the Rajdhani Express to derail, although no passengers or railway staff were injured in the collision.  Railway officials swiftly dispatched accident relief teams, and operations to clear the tracks began soon after. Affected passengers were accommodated in other coaches and later transferred to alternate trains as services were disrupted across the region.

Railway authorities stated that the accident did not occur on a designated elephant corridor. The loco pilot reportedly applied emergency brakes after sighting the herd, but was unable to prevent the collision.

Elephants: Rescue and Conservation Efforts

Forest department officials reached the scene to carry out post-mortem examinations of the deceased elephants, while the injured calf was attended to by wildlife veterinarians.  The loss underscores the ongoing conflict between expanding rail infrastructure and wildlife habitats, particularly in northeastern India, where dense forests and migratory routes intersect heavily used railway lines.

Assam is home to one of India’s largest populations of wild Asiatic elephants, and collisions between trains and elephant herds have been a recurring concern in recent years.

Officials and Community Response

Senior railway and forest officials, including the General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, visited the accident site to oversee restoration and safety measures. Restoration work continued throughout the day as authorities worked to resume normal train operations and prevent further disruptions. peed restrictions in areas prone to wildlife movement. Conservationists argue that such steps are critical to reducing deadly encounters between trains and vulnerable animal populations.