High-speed train in India runs over a herd of elephants: seven animals killed
A high-speed passenger train has hit a herd of wild Asian elephants in north-eastern India. The accident killed seven animals and injured another elephant. The incident occurred on the morning of 20 December in the Hojai district of Assam. It was reported by BBC.
According to the North Eastern Frontier Railway, the driver of the express train noticed about a hundred elephants on the tracks and applied emergency braking. Despite this, some of the animals could not avoid the collision. Five carriages and a locomotive derailed after the impact, but there were no injuries among the approximately 650 passengers and staff on the train.
As a result of the accident, train cancellations and route changes were recorded in the region throughout the day. The dead elephants were examined by veterinarians and then buried.
Assam is one of the regions of India with the largest elephant population. There are almost 6,000 wild Asian elephants in the state. The railway tracks here often cross the animals' migration routes, but according to the railway company, the area where the tragedy occurred is not officially part of the elephant corridors. Over the past five years, at least 12 elephants have been killed by trains in the state.
