In brief
Seven wild Asian elephants, including calves, tragically lost their lives when a high-speed express train collided with them while crossing tracks in Assam. The incident reflects the ongoing challenges of managing wildlife interactions with modern transport systems in human-dominated landscapes. While passengers remained unharmed, this event highlights the urgent need for protective measures for elephants and awareness about their movement patterns.
Seven wild Asian elephants, including calves, were killed when a high-speed train collided with a herd crossing the tracks in north-eastern India, local officials say.
They say another calf was injured in the incident early on Saturday in Hojai district, Assam state.
The Northeast Frontier Railway states that the train driver spotted dozens of elephants and applied the emergency brakes, but some animals were still fatally impacted.
Following the collision, five carriages derailed. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers and staff on the Delhi-bound express, although train cancellations and diversions were noted in the area throughout the day.
The deceased elephants were later examined by veterinarians and buried. Assam is home to one of the largest elephant populations in India, with nearly 6,000 elephants recorded in the state.
Local railway tracks often intersect with elephant pathways; however, this collision occurred in an area that was not designated as an elephant corridor, according to the Northeast Frontier Railway.
