In a tragic incident that has sparked widespread concern, seven elephants were killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a high-speed train in central Assam. The collision has prompted Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to order a detailed investigation and call for urgent safety measures to protect wildlife.
Chief Minister's Response and Orders
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed profound grief over the loss of the elephants, which included three adults and four calves. Taking to social media platform X, Sarma stated he was "deeply saddened" by the accident and has directed the state's Forest Department to conduct a thorough enquiry into the circumstances.
He emphasized the need to strengthen safety protocols in wildlife corridors, especially during seasons with poor visibility like fog. "I have directed the Forest Department to conduct a detailed enquiry on this deeply disturbing accident and take steps to further secure our wildlife corridors, particularly during low visibility seasons," Sarma's post read.
Details of the Tragic Collision
The accident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, around 2:17 am, in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway. The location is in Hojai district.
The Delhi-bound Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit a herd of elephants crossing the tracks. The impact was so severe that it caused the locomotive and five coaches to derail. Railway officials confirmed that the loco pilot applied emergency brakes upon spotting the herd, but the collision was unavoidable.
Authorities from the NF Railway clarified that the accident site is not a designated elephant corridor. Forest department teams rushed to the spot and confirmed the death of all seven elephants.
Passenger Safety and Restoration Work
Miraculously, there were no casualties or injuries reported among the train's passengers. Following the derailment, passengers from the affected coaches were moved to vacant berths in other coaches.
Senior railway officials, including the General Manager of NF Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, immediately rushed to the accident site. Accident relief trains were deployed for restoration work.
After detaching the derailed coaches, the train proceeded to Guwahati at 6:11 am, where it was scheduled to have additional coaches attached before continuing its journey. Several trains on the route were diverted via the UP line, causing temporary disruptions until restoration was completed.
Broader Implications and Technological Solutions
The incident has reignited the debate on balancing infrastructure development with wildlife conservation. Chief Minister Sarma stressed the necessity for stronger safety measures to protect elephants and other wildlife that frequently traverse forest areas near railway lines.
In a related development, Indian Railways has indicated it is working on expanding the use of technology to prevent such tragedies. This includes deploying Artificial Intelligence-based intrusion detection systems near vulnerable tracks. These systems are designed to alert loco pilots and control rooms about elephant movement near railway lines, enabling timely preventive action.
The tragic loss of the elephant herd underscores the ongoing challenge of human-wildlife conflict in regions where animal habitats intersect with expanding transport networks, calling for more proactive and technology-driven solutions.
