In a tragic incident highlighting the conflict between infrastructure and wildlife, at least seven wild elephants were killed early Saturday morning after being struck by the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express in central Assam. The high-speed train was on its way to the national capital when the collision occurred, leading to significant damage to the train itself.
Timeline and Details of the Tragic Collision
The accident took place at approximately 2:17 am on Saturday in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section, which falls under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway. The location is about 126 kilometers from Guwahati. According to officials, the area is not a designated elephant corridor, making the sudden appearance of the herd unexpected.
KK Sharma, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of NF Railway, stated that the loco pilot spotted the herd of elephants and immediately applied the emergency brakes. Despite this swift action, the train could not stop in time, resulting in the collision. The impact caused the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches of the Rajdhani Express.
Passenger Safety and Immediate Aftermath
In a silver lining to the distressing event, railway authorities confirmed that there were no casualties or injuries among the passengers aboard the train. The safety protocols following the derailment were promptly activated.
The passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths across other coaches. After detaching the derailed coaches from the rest of the train, it proceeded to Guwahati at 6:11 am on Saturday. The CPRO added that once the train reaches Guwahati, additional coaches will be attached to properly accommodate all affected passengers before the journey to Delhi resumes.
Official Response and Restoration Efforts
Authorities have swung into action following the accident. Accident relief trains and officials from the divisional headquarters have reached the site. Senior officers, including the General Manager of NF Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, have also rushed to the spot to oversee operations.
Restoration work is currently underway, and as a result, trains scheduled to pass through this section are being diverted to alternative routes. To assist concerned citizens, the NF Railway has activated helpline numbers at Guwahati railway station: 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, and 0361-2731623.
Commenting on the incident, Barhampur MLA Jitu Goswami pointed out that elephants often come down from the hills during the night. He also suggested that reduced visibility due to fog might have been a contributing factor in the tragic accident, preventing both the herd and the train crew from avoiding the collision.
