A high-speed passenger train has struck and killed seven wild Asiatic elephants in a devastating collision in northeastern India. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, 20 December 2025, also left a calf injured and caused part of the train to derail.
Details of the Tragic Collision
The Rajdhani Express train, travelling from Mizoram state to New Delhi with 650 people on board, hit the elephants at approximately 2:17 am. The accident took place in a forested area of Assam state. According to Indian Railways spokesman Kishore Sharma, the train driver spotted the large herd, estimated to be around a hundred strong, crossing the tracks and immediately applied the emergency brakes.
Despite this swift action, the train was unable to stop in time, resulting in the deaths of seven elephants. The impact was severe enough to cause the engine and five coaches to derail. Remarkably, there were no reported human casualties among the passengers or crew.
Aftermath and Ongoing Issues
Following the collision, veterinarians conducted autopsies on the deceased elephants, which were due to be buried later on Saturday. Around 200 passengers who were in the derailed coaches were transferred to Guwahati via a different train service. Other passengers, whose carriages remained on the tracks, continued their journey towards the national capital.
Indian Railways stated that the accident location was not a designated elephant corridor, though railway tracks in Assam are known to be frequented by the animals. This tragic event highlights a persistent and deadly conflict in the region. Assam is home to an estimated 7,000 wild Asiatic elephants, one of the largest populations in India.
A Recurring Wildlife Tragedy
Collisions between trains and elephants are a sadly recurrent problem in this part of India. Since 2020, at least a dozen elephants have been killed by speeding trains across Assam state. The issue often intensifies during this season, as wild elephants frequently stray into areas of human habitation and infrastructure when rice fields are ready for harvesting, bringing them into dangerous proximity with railway lines.
This latest incident underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing vital transport infrastructure with the conservation of endangered wildlife and the protection of crucial animal habitats.
