Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Exp Mows Down 7 Elephants In Assam, 5 Coaches Derailed

Nagaon/Guwahati, Dec 20: At least seven elephants were killed and one injured after the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit a herd of jumbos in Assam’s Hojai district early Saturday, officials said. Five coaches and the engine of the train were also derailed in the accident.

The mishap occurred at around 2.17 am near Changjurai village. Initially, officials said all eight elephants had died, but later confirmed that one animal survived with injuries. No passengers were hurt in the incident.

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

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said the accident took place in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division, about 126 km from Guwahati. He added that the site is not a designated elephant corridor.

“The train driver applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd, but the elephants dashed with the train,” Sharma said, adding that accident relief trains and senior railway officials have reached the spot.

The NFR general manager and the divisional railway manager of Lumding also rushed to the site. Helpline numbers — 0361-2731621, 2731622 and 2731623 — have been activated at Guwahati railway station.

Passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths in other compartments. The train, without the derailed coaches, left the site for Guwahati at 6.11 am. Additional coaches will be attached at Guwahati before the train resumes its onward journey, Sharma said.

Trains passing through the affected section have been diverted via the UP line, while restoration work is underway. The Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang near Aizawl in Mizoram to the Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi. (Agencies)