• Seven elephants, including calves, were killed in a train collision in Assam.
• The Rajdhani Express derailed but there were no human casualties.
• The accident occurred in an area not designated as an elephant corridor.
• Wild elephants frequently cross railway tracks in Assam, leading to recurring accidents.
• Authorities are reviewing safety measures to prevent future incidents.

Early Saturday morning, a high-speed passenger train, the Rajdhani Express, collided with a herd of approximately 100 wild Asiatic elephants in Assam, leading to the tragic death of seven elephants, with one calf also injured. The incident occurred in the Hojai district, about 78 miles southeast of Guwahati, and resulted in the derailment of five train coaches. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the train's 650 passengers, according to Indiatimes, CBS News, LA Times, and BBC.

The train driver attempted to stop by activating the emergency brakes upon observing the herd, but the train still impacted the elephants. After the collision, officials reported that the animals were examined by veterinarians and buried later in the day. Despite the collision's severity, train services resumed promptly, with affected passengers being relocated to different coaches, as reported by CBS News and LA Times.

Assam is home to a significant population of elephants, with nearly 6,000 recorded, and incidents like this are unfortunately common as wild elephants often stray into human habitats, particularly during the harvesting season. According to officials, the accident site was not classified as a designated elephant corridor, heightening concerns over wildlife safety on railway tracks in Assam, as detailed by Indiatimes and BBC.