Rajdhani Express Hits Elephant Herd in Assam: 8 Dead, 5 Coaches Derailed

Rajdhani Express Derailed in Assam After Colliding With Elephants; 8 Killed, No Passenger Injuries

A New Delhi-bound Rajdhani Express derailed early Saturday after striking a herd of elephants in Assam’s Nagaon district, railway officials confirmed. The accident occurred at 2:17 a.m. on December 20 in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section under the Lumding Division of Northeast Frontier Railway. The locomotive and five coaches went off the tracks.

The collision tragically killed eight elephants, though no passengers or railway staff were injured. The train was reportedly travelling near the site, which is not a designated elephant corridor, when the loco pilot applied emergency brakes upon spotting the animals.

The derailed coaches’ passengers were temporarily accommodated in vacant berths of other coaches, and the train departed for Guwahati at 6:11 a.m. Additional coaches will be attached there to continue the journey to New Delhi.

Railway Response and Passenger Assistance
Rescue and restoration teams, including Accident Relief Trains and senior railway officials, were dispatched immediately. Helpline numbers have been activated at Guwahati station to assist passengers and relatives: 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, 0361-2731623.

Meanwhile, trains scheduled through the affected section are being diverted via the UP line, and restoration work is ongoing. Railway authorities confirmed that normal train operations will resume once safety checks are completed.