A serious accident has occurred when the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express train collided with a herd of wild elephants in Hojai district of Assam. At least seven elephants have died tragically in this accident that occurred in the early hours of the morning. There is an injured calf, which is being given first aid by the local forest department team.
Dangerous scene of train collision
This terrible accident happened near Jamunamukh-Kampur section at around 02:17 in the morning. When the train saw the elephants, the loco-pilot tried to apply emergency brakes, but due to heavy fog and high speed it was not possible to stop the train. The collision was so severe that the engine and five coaches of the train derailed. It is a matter of relief that the passengers traveling in the train did not suffer any serious injuries.
Need for safe corridors for elephants
The accident site is about 126 km from Guwahati and is not a declared elephant corridor area. Forest officials said that five adult elephants and some calves have lost their lives in this collision. The injured calf is undergoing treatment and the post-mortem of the dead elephants is also being done at the spot.
impact on rail traffic
The railway administration safely evacuated the injured passengers and shifted them to other coaches of the train. However, some trains have also been diverted or canceled under this incident, as rail services have been affected for some time.
Chief Minister expressing concern
After this heart-wrenching incident, the Chief Minister of Assam has expressed deep grief and has ordered an investigation as soon as possible. He has demanded measures to protect the wildlife corridors and avoid such accidents in future.
