A tragic incident unfolded in Assam, India, when a high-speed passenger train collided with a herd of elephants early on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of seven wild Asiatic elephants. The collision occurred while the elephants were crossing the railway tracks, according to local authorities. A calf was reported injured in the accident.
The train driver attempted to stop the train, which was traveling at high speed, upon spotting the herd of approximately 100 elephants. Despite applying the emergency brakes, the train struck several elephants. The impact caused five train coaches and the engine to derail; fortunately, there were no human injuries reported. Indian Railways spokesman Kapinjal Kishore Sharma confirmed the details to The Associated Press.
Veterinarians conducted autopsies on the deceased elephants at the accident site, which is located in a forested area about 125 kilometers southeast of Guwahati, Assam’s capital. The remains of the elephants were scheduled to be buried later that day.
Ongoing Challenges with Wildlife and Railways
Railway tracks in Assam frequently cross through regions inhabited by elephants. However, the specific location of this collision was not designated as an elephant corridor, as highlighted by Indian Railways in a recent statement. The organization noted that trains traversing the country’s 150 wildlife corridors are mandated to reduce speed to avoid such collisions.
The train involved in the incident, the Rajdhani Express, was en route from Sairang in Mizoram, near the Myanmar border, to the national capital, New Delhi. The train was carrying approximately 650 passengers at the time of the collision. Following the derailment, railway officials disconnected the undamaged coaches and allowed the train to continue its journey. Meanwhile, around 200 passengers from the affected coaches were relocated to Guwahati via a different train.
Collisions between speeding trains and wild elephants are not uncommon in Assam, which is home to an estimated 7,000 Asiatic elephants, one of the highest concentrations in India. Since 2020, there have been at least a dozen reported incidents of elephants being killed by trains in the state. On average, approximately 20 elephants lose their lives each year due to train accidents, according to data from the Indian government. Such fatalities often occur when elephants cross railway lines that run through their natural habitats.
Efforts to Protect Elephants
The Indian government has recently taken steps to address the issue of wildlife safety on railways. A new elephant hospital was inaugurated in Mathura, aiming to provide medical care for injured elephants. Additionally, the southern state of Tamil Nadu has launched a surveillance system utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning to help prevent elephant deaths on railways.
During this time of year, wild elephants often wander into human settlements as they search for food, particularly rice fields that are ready for harvesting. This behavior increases the risk of accidents involving trains, highlighting the urgent need for effective measures to protect both wildlife and human lives. As authorities continue to investigate this incident, the focus remains on finding solutions to mitigate future collisions.
