In a tragic incident early Saturday morning, the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express collided with a herd of wild elephants in Assam’s Hojai district, resulting in the death of seven elephants and one calf being injured. The collision occurred at approximately 2:17 AM on December 20, 2025, in the Changjurai area of Hojai district, leading to the derailment of the train’s engine and five coaches.
According to officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), no passengers or railway staff were injured in the accident, despite the train carrying approximately 1,200 passengers. The Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang in Mizoram (near Aizawl) to Anand Vihar Terminal in New Delhi.
Incident Details and Railway Response:
The tragedy unfolded when a herd of approximately 100 wild Asian elephants attempted to cross the railway tracks in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section of the Northeast Frontier Railway’s Lumding Division. The train’s loco pilot, upon spotting the herd on the tracks, immediately applied emergency brakes. However, the speed and momentum of the high-speed passenger train made it impossible to avoid the collision completely.
The impact of the collision was severe, resulting in:
- Death of seven elephants
- One calf injured and rescued for medical treatment
- Derailment of the locomotive and five coaches
- Significant disruption to train services on the route
- Elephant remains scattered on the tracks
Forest Department Response:
Forest officials, including Nagaon Divisional Forest Officer Suhash Kadam, quickly rushed to the accident site. They initiated immediate response procedures including:
- Autopsy of the deceased elephants
- Medical treatment for the injured calf under the supervision of local veterinary doctors
- Investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident
- Assessment of the herd’s movement patterns and behavior
Rail Operations and Restoration:
Following the incident, train services on the Jamunamukh-Kampur section were disrupted. Railway authorities diverted trains through the UP line while restoration work commenced on an urgent basis. The accident site is located approximately 126 kilometers from Guwahati.
Passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths in other coaches of the train. Once the train reached Guwahati, additional coaches were to be attached to accommodate all passengers before the train resumed its onward journey.
Wildlife-Railway Conflict: A Growing Crisis:
This incident highlights the escalating man-animal conflict in Assam’s ecological zones. The Hojai district has emerged as a notorious hotspot for elephant-train collisions, with over a dozen such incidents reported in 2025 alone. According to Wildlife Trust of India records, Assam’s annual tally of elephant-train collisions exceeds 50, representing a stark increase from previous years.
The primary factors contributing to this rising conflict include:
- Habitat Loss: Deforestation, agricultural plantations, and urban sprawl have significantly reduced elephant habitats
- Railway Expansion: Expanded railway tracks for economic connectivity have increasingly fragmented elephant corridors
- Seasonal Movement: During winter months, elephants are forced to move to lowlands in search of food, crossing active rail lines
- Elephant Corridors: The accident occurred in an area not officially designated as an elephant corridor, posing challenges for mitigation efforts
Government Initiatives and Future Measures:
The Environment Ministry had recently alerted Parliament about measures to prevent such tragedies, including:
- Digital tracking of elephant movements
- Enhanced monitoring systems along wildlife corridors
- Coordination between railway authorities and forest departments
- Development of safer passages for wildlife
However, experts argue that more comprehensive measures are needed to effectively address this growing crisis.
Conclusion:
The death of seven elephants in the Rajdhani Express collision underscores the complex challenges facing wildlife conservation in India’s rapidly modernizing infrastructure landscape. While the protection of railway operations and human safety is paramount, finding sustainable solutions to prevent such tragic incidents remains a critical priority. The incident emphasizes the urgent need for better coordination between railway authorities, forest departments, and environmental agencies to develop effective mitigation strategies that balance development with wildlife conservation efforts in Assam and other ecologically sensitive regions.
