High-Speed Train Collides with Elephants, Killing Seven in Assam
Early on December 16, 2023, a high-speed passenger train in northeastern India struck a herd of wild Asiatic elephants, resulting in the death of seven elephants and injuring a calf. The incident occurred in Assam, approximately 125 kilometers (78 miles) southeast of the state capital, Guwahati. Local authorities reported that the train driver attempted to stop the train as soon as he spotted the herd, which consisted of about 100 elephants, but the emergency brakes did not prevent the collision.
According to Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, a spokesperson for Indian Railways, the impact caused five train coaches and the engine to derail. Fortunately, there were no reported human casualties among the 650 passengers on board the Rajdhani Express, which was traveling from Sairang in Mizoram to New Delhi. Passengers from the derailed coaches were safely transferred to another train to continue their journey to the capital.
Veterinarians conducted autopsies on the deceased elephants, with plans to bury them later that day. Although railway tracks in Assam often cross through areas inhabited by elephants, the specific location of this accident was not designated as an elephant corridor. Local wildlife officials noted that incidents involving speeding trains hitting elephants are not uncommon in Assam, which is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the highest populations in India.
Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have been killed in similar accidents across the state. This time of year, elephants frequently venture into agricultural areas as they seek food, particularly when rice fields are ready for harvesting. The interaction between wildlife and human habitation remains a significant concern for local authorities and conservationists alike.
Indian Railways has expressed its commitment to improving safety measures along train routes in regions frequented by wildlife. As the investigation into this incident continues, it highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing wildlife conservation with railway operations in a country where both are vital to the economy and culture.
