Five coaches of a Rajdhani train derailed after it collided with a herd of elephants on Saturday morning, officials said. Eight elephants were killed when the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express hit a herd of trotters in Assam.
No human injuries or deaths were reported after the derailment of five coaches of the Rajdhani train, a railway official said.
The incident took place in Changjurai area of Assam’s Hojai district, Nagaon Forest Officer Suhash Kadam was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
According to a forest official, one wild elephant was injured and eight others died.
A New Delhi-bound train collided with elephants at around 2:17 am on Saturday.
Apart from five coaches, an engine of the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed, a spokesperson of the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) said.
Forest officials including Kadam have reached the accident site.
Trains diverted
According to Kadam, trains that were supposed to run through the affected Jamunamukh–Kampur section have been diverted. They will now work via the UP line.
According to an NDTV report, the affected trains are running in parts of Upper Assam and other parts of the Northeast.
Restoration work is in progress. Following reports of the incident, rescue trains and railway officials were rushed to the spot to start rescue operations, as per an NDTV report.
Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express connects Sairang in Mizoram and Anand Vihar railway station in New Delhi.
(This is a developing story. Check back for updates)
