Dispur, Dec 20: In a tragic incident, at least eight elephants were killed after a herd collided with the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district on Saturday morning.

According to reports, the accident occurred when the herd was crossing the railway tracks, leading to a devastating impact and disruption of rail services in the region.

The collision took place near a forested stretch where elephant movement is frequent. The train was en route to New Delhi when the herd suddenly appeared on the tracks. Despite attempts to halt the train, the impact proved fatal for the animals.

Following the collision, five coaches of the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express were derailed. However, officials confirmed that no passenger casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

Soon after the incident, accident relief trains and railway officials rushed to the spot to initiate rescue operations.

Sources said that due to the derailment and elephant body parts scattered on the tracks, train services to Upper Assam and other parts of the Northeast were affected.


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The Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Mizoram's Sairang (near Aizawl) to Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi).

Passengers from the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths available in other coaches of the train.