Assam Rajdhani train collides with a herd of elephants, engine and five coaches derail

A Rajdhani Express train from DN Sairang to New Delhi collided with a herd of elephants in Assam, resulting in the derailment of the train engine as well as five coaches. According to reports, some elephants also died due to this incident.

The incident occurred at 2.17 am on the Jamunamukh-Kampur section, which falls under the Lumding division of the North Frontier Railway.

News agency ANI quoted Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, as saying that there were no injuries or casualties to any passenger. Accident relief vehicles along with officials from the divisional headquarters were at the spot.

Railway officials said train services on the section were disrupted after the incident and trains were diverted from the up line while restoration work was underway.

Sharma said the loco pilot applied emergency brakes and stopped the train. The renovation work has been completed, he said.

The Times of India quoted a forest official as saying that eight of the elephant herd died and one was injured.