Assam: 8 elephants killed after Rajdhani Express hits them; train ops hit after 5 coaches derail

Lumding: At least five coaches of the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed in Assam on Saturday morning after the train collided with a herd of wild elephants, causing major disruption to rail services in the Northeast. Around eight elephants were killed. No passengers were reported injured in the incident.

The accident took place in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR). Railway officials said the locomotive and five coaches derailed after colliding with the herd of elephants on the tracks. The accident happened around 2:17 am.

According to local residents, a herd of around eight elephants was present in the area at the time of the collision. Several elephants are suspected to have been killed, though officials are yet to issue a formal confirmation on the exact number of animal casualties.

The derailment occurred approximately 126 kilometres from Guwahati. Soon after the incident, accident relief trains, railway personnel and senior officials rushed to the site to begin restoration and rescue operations.

Railway sources said that the derailed coaches and the scattered elephant body parts across the tracks severely affected train movement toward Upper Assam and other parts of the Northeast. Multiple train services had to be halted or diverted as clearance work continued.

Travellers from the derailed coaches were shifted to vacant berths available in other coaches of the train. Railway authorities said that once the train reaches Guwahati, additional coaches will be attached to accommodate all passengers before the journey resumes.

Officials said that the accident did not take place in a designated elephant corridor. Preliminary information suggests that the loco pilot applied emergency brakes after spotting the herd on the tracks. However, despite the attempt to stop the train, the train reportedly ran into the elephants, resulting in the collision and derailment.