Horrific Rajdhani Crash Kills 8 Elephants in Assam; Questions Raised on Safety

• Eight elephants died and one calf was injured after being hit by the 20507 DN Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express near Hojai, Assam, at 2:17 AM.
• The accident occurred in the Yamunamukh-Kampur section of Northeast Frontier Railway's Lumding Division, an area not designated as an elephant corridor.
• Railway officials stated that despite forest department warnings about elephants 10 km away, the accident happened due to dense fog and the driver's inability to brake quickly in a non-corridor zone.
• The train's engine and 5 LHB coaches derailed, but LHB coaches minimized passenger injuries.
• This incident highlights a recurring problem of elephant deaths on railway tracks, with elephants increasingly deviating from traditional corridors due to habitat changes, posing a challenge for railways.

Why It Matters: Rajdhani Express killed 8 elephants in Assam, highlighting repeated failures to prevent wildlife deaths on tracks.