Elephant-train collision in Assam: Injured calf dies, toll rises to 8
Seven elephants were killed and one was injured when the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express crashed into a tusker herd in Changjurai village on Saturday.
“The calf, the sole survivor of the accident, died this morning while undergoing treatment at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation Center (CWRC) in Kaziranga,” Nagaon Divisional Forest Ranger Shamim Akhtar told PTI. he said.
He said the seven jumbos killed at the scene were buried near the crash site on Saturday after autopsy and other legal formalities.
Although no passengers were injured in the accident, five wagons and the train’s engine were derailed.
A ‘caution order’ has been issued to railway authorities for a 12-hour speed regulation from 5pm on Saturday; this is routine practice whenever animal movement is reported.
The other elephants in the herd, eight of which were killed, continued to roam near the accident site, the forest official said: “The Jumbos are still in the area and had gone out in search of food. Our forest department personnel are camping there.”
The two drivers were detained after the crash but were released on Saturday, the official said.
“A case has been registered and the forest department is conducting its own investigation,” he said.
He added that the forest department has been instructed to conduct a detailed investigation and secure wildlife corridors.
