A tragic train accident was witnessed in Assam’s Hojai district in the early hours of Saturday (December 20). Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express collides with a herd of elephants. Eight elephants died in this accident, while one elephant is said to be injured. After the collision, five coaches of the train derailed. However, it is a matter of relief that no passenger has been reported injured in this accident.
According to the statement issued by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NF Railway), the accident occurred at around 2.15 am on Saturday. When the train was passing through Jamunamukh-Kampur section falling under Hojai district, suddenly a herd of elephants came on the railway track. As soon as the loco pilot realized the situation, he applied emergency brakes, but due to the high speed of the train, it was not possible to avoid collision with the elephants.
Immediately after the accident, Lumding Division of NF Railway started relief and rescue operations. Senior railway officials, including the General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, reached the spot. Under the supervision of officials, passengers of the affected coaches were temporarily shifted to vacant berths available in other coaches. Giving priority to the safety and convenience of passengers, the train was stopped for some time.
Railway officials said that the train left for Guwahati at around 6.15 am. After reaching Guwahati, additional coaches will be added to the train to accommodate the passengers, after which Rajdhani Express will begin its onward journey to its destination New Delhi.
Due to this accident, rail traffic has also been affected in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section of NF Railway. Subhash Kadam, an official of Assam’s Nagaon forest division, told news agency PTI that several scheduled trains have been diverted from the up line. Forest department officials have also reached the spot and are assessing the situation and restoration work has been started at the accident site.
Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang, located near Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi and is considered one of the important trains of the North-East. Meanwhile, Congress MP from Assam Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the rapid destruction of forests during the government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has disrupted the traditional migration routes of wildlife, due to which such accidents are on the rise. This incident once again raises serious questions on the need for a balance between human development projects and wildlife conservation.
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