Tragic Train Accident Claims Lives of Seven Elephants in Assam
Assam Chief Minister Expresses Grief Over Elephant Deaths
On Saturday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed profound sorrow following a tragic train accident that resulted in the deaths of seven elephants, including three adults and four calves. In a statement, he conveyed his deep sadness over the incident that occurred earlier in the day. The Chief Minister has instructed the forest department to conduct a thorough investigation into this alarming event and to take measures to enhance the safety of wildlife corridors. He emphasized the need for increased safety protocols to prevent such occurrences and to ensure better protection for wildlife, particularly in sensitive corridors frequently used by elephants.
Details of the Incident
The unfortunate incident took place in the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, specifically in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section. Train number 20507 DN, the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, collided with the elephants, causing the train's engine and five carriages to derail. Fortunately, no passengers were injured in the accident. Upon receiving news of the incident, senior railway officials, including the General Manager of Northeast Frontier Railway and the Railway Manager of Lumding division, promptly arrived at the scene to initiate repair work.
Passenger Adjustments and Further Actions
Passengers from the affected carriages were temporarily accommodated in available berths in other carriages. After separating the derailed carriages, the train departed for Guwahati at 6:11 AM. Upon arrival in Guwahati, additional carriages will be added to accommodate the affected passengers, allowing the train to resume its journey. The Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, Kapinjol Kishore Sharma, provided this information, noting that the accident site is approximately 126 kilometers from Guwahati and is not part of an elephant corridor. He also mentioned that the locomotive pilot applied emergency brakes upon spotting the herd of elephants; however, the elephants were unable to avoid the train.