A tragic incident occurred early on Saturday when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd of wild Asiatic elephants in Assam, India, resulting in the deaths of seven elephants and leaving a calf injured. Local authorities reported that the train, identified as the Rajdhani Express, was en route from Sairang in Mizoram to New Delhi with approximately 650 passengers on board when it struck the herd, which was crossing the tracks.
The train driver noticed the herd of nearly 100 elephants and applied the emergency brakes. Despite this effort, the train still collided with some of the animals. Following the impact, five train coaches and the engine derailed, though there were no reported human casualties, according to Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma. Veterinarians were dispatched to perform autopsies on the deceased elephants, with plans to bury them later in the day.
Frequent Collisions and Conservation Efforts
The accident took place in a forested area located approximately 78 miles southeast of Assam’s capital, Guwahati. While railway tracks in Assam are known to be frequented by elephants, Indian Railways clarified that the collision occurred outside of a designated elephant corridor. Trains traversing India’s 150 wildlife corridors are mandated to reduce speed in those areas to minimize the risk of collisions.
Despite these measures, the frequency of such incidents remains concerning. Assam is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, representing one of the highest concentrations of these animals in India. Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have lost their lives due to train collisions in the state, with an average of 20 elephants killed annually, according to government data. These tragic accidents typically occur when elephants cross railway lines that run through their natural habitats.
Following the collision, the unaffected train coaches were detached, allowing the train to continue its journey to New Delhi. Approximately 200 passengers from the derailed coaches were relocated to Guwahati via a different train.
Human-Elephant Interaction and Safety Initiatives
As the harvesting season for rice approaches, wild elephants are more likely to stray into human settlements in search of food, further increasing the risk of such encounters. In response to this ongoing issue, India has opened an elephant hospital in Mathura aimed at providing care for these magnificent creatures. Additionally, the southern state of Tamil Nadu has implemented an artificial intelligence and machine learning-enabled surveillance system designed to help prevent elephant deaths on railways.
The collision highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety measures to protect both elephants and train passengers. As communities and conservationists work together, the hope is to find solutions that will reduce the likelihood of such devastating incidents in the future.
