8 elephants die in Assam after Rajdhani Express collision, 5 coaches derailed

The site of the incident is about 126 kilometres from Guwahati

A New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express derailed early Saturday after hitting a herd of elephants in Assam’s Nagaon district.

Railway officials said no passengers were injured, however, eight elephants were killed in the accident, which occurred around 2.17 am on December 20 in the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, according to a CNN-News18 report.

The train, numbered 20507 DN DN Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit elephants on the track, resulting the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches.

The site of the incident is about 126 kilometres from Guwahati. The CNN-News18 report, citing railway authorities, revealed that the area is not marked as a designated elephant corridor.

Despite the impact, officials said all passengers and railway staff were safe. The loco pilot reportedly applied emergency brakes after spotting the elephants on the track, but the train collided with the herd.

Accident relief trains were pressed into service and senior officials from the Lumding divisional headquarters arrived at the site shortly after the derailment, as top railway authorities reached the location to oversee rescue and restoration work.

Passengers from the affected coaches were shifted to vacant berths in other coaches, and the train departed for Guwahati at around 6.11 am after detaching the derailed coaches. Railway authorities said extra coaches would be attached at Guwahati to accommodate all passengers before the train continues to New Delhi.

Soon after the incident, helpline numbers were activated at Guwahati railway station to assist passengers as well as relatives. The helpline numbers are 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622 and 0361-2731623.