Guwahati: In a tragic incident, eight elephants were killed and one injured when a herd was struck by the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district in the early hours of Saturday, a forest official said.
According to a spokesperson of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the collision caused the train’s engine and five coaches to derail.
Railway officials confirmed that no passengers were injured in the accident. Authorities said that the area is not marked as a designated elephant corridor.
The New Delhi-bound train met with the accident at around 2.17 am.
Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer Suhash Kadam said the incident took place in the Changjurai area of Hojai district.
Senior railway officers, including the General Manager of the Northeast Frontier Railway and Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding, also reached the location to oversee the rescue and restoration work.
Following the derailment, trains scheduled to pass through the Jamunamukh–Kampur section have been diverted via the UP line, while restoration work is currently underway.
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The Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang, near Aizawl in Mizoram, with Anand Vihar Terminal in Delhi.
Railway officials said normal train services would resume once safety checks are completed.
