December 20, 2025, 2:41 p.mDecember 20, 2025, 2:41 p.m
Despite pulling the emergency brake, three adult elephants and four calves died.Image: keystone
At least seven wild elephants have died in a collision with an express train in eastern India. The news of the deaths of three adult animals and four calves made him sad, wrote the head of government of the state of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on
According to reports, the train driver activated the emergency brake when he saw a herd of elephants on the route. However, some animals were hit by the train along the route. The force of the impact caused the train to derail, but none of the occupants were injured. It was said that the herd consisted of around 100 animals that wanted to cross the tracks. The train was traveling from Assam towards the capital New Delhi in the north of the country.
Be careful, this picture shows one of the dead elephants in a very bloody way.Image: keystone
Prime Minister orders investigation
Sarma ordered an investigation into the “deeply disturbing accident”. Steps should be taken to make Assam’s wildlife corridors safer. According to the Assam Forest Department, 5,828 wild elephants were counted in a study last year. The study showed a stable and healthy population across the state, it said.
In India there are frequent collisions between trains and elephants. In August, the Environment Ministry informed Parliament that at least 79 elephants had died as a result of such accidents in the past five years, NDTV reported. (sda/dpa)