High-Speed Train Kills Seven Elephants in India's Assam State
A high-speed passenger train in Assam, India, collided with a herd of wild Asian elephants, killing seven and injuring a calf, highlighting ongoing wildlife safety concerns.
Overview
- Seven wild Asian elephants were tragically killed in India's northeastern state of Assam when a high-speed passenger train collided with their herd crossing the tracks.
- The incident also left one elephant calf injured, as the train driver's emergency braking efforts were insufficient to prevent the fatal collision.
- Some coaches of the high-speed passenger train reportedly derailed following the impact with the elephant herd in Assam.
- Veterinarians have since performed autopsies on the deceased elephants to investigate the circumstances of the collision.
- This event underscores a significant ongoing issue in Assam, where speeding trains frequently collide with and kill elephants, a state home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources are neutral in their coverage of the train collision with elephants. They focus on reporting the factual details of the incident, including the number of animals killed, the location, and the immediate consequences for the train and its passengers. The reporting avoids loaded language or selective emphasis, presenting information directly and attributing statements to relevant officials.
"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."
BBC NewsArticles (3)
FAQ
The train driver spotted a herd of about 100 elephants and applied emergency brakes, but the high-speed passenger train still struck some animals; five coaches and the engine derailed after the impact, and officials said the site was not a designated elephant corridor, suggesting limited warning and insufficient stopping distance at operating speed[2].
Seven wild Asiatic elephants were killed and one calf was injured; there were no human fatalities reported, though five coaches and the engine derailed and about 200 passengers from derailed coaches were moved to Guwahati[2].
Train-elephant collisions are relatively common in Assam, which has an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants and multiple railway lines crossing forested areas; officials say speeding trains have killed at least a dozen elephants in the state since 2020, especially during seasons when elephants move into agricultural areas[2].
Veterinarians performed autopsies on the dead elephants and planned burial; railway authorities diverted trains on the route while investigating speed and track monitoring, and officials have in the past discussed measures such as digital tracking of elephant movements to prevent such tragedies.
The Rajdhani Express traveling from Sairang in Mizoram to New Delhi with about 650 passengers onboard struck the herd; after detaching undamaged coaches the train resumed its journey while roughly 200 passengers from the derailed coaches were transferred to another train to Guwahati[2].
History
- This story does not have any previous versions.