Seven wild Asian elephants, together with calves, had been killed when a high-speed practice collided with a herd crossing the tracks in north-eastern India, native officers say.
They are saying one other calf was injured within the incident early on Saturday in Hojai district, Assam state.
The Northeast Frontier Railway says the practice driver noticed dozens of elephants and used the emergency brakes – however some animals had been nonetheless hit.
5 carriages derailed after the collision, however no accidents had been reported amongst passengers and employees on the Delhi-bound specific. Practice cancellations and diversions had been reported within the space through the day.
The killed elephants had been later examined by veterinarians and buried.
Assam has one of many greatest elephant populations in India, with practically 6,000 animals recorded within the state.
Native railway tracks are sometimes crossed by elephant herds – however Saturday’s incident occurred at a location that was not a delegated elephant hall, the Northeast Frontier Railway says.
