A wild elephant calf that sustained critical injuries in a train accident in Assam’s Nagaon district has died, taking the death toll from the incident to eight, officials confirmed on December 21. The calf, believed to be just two to three days old, succumbed at the wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre in Panbari, Bokakhat, despite intensive efforts by veterinary teams.
The newborn had been under round-the-clock emergency care since Friday after being rescued from the accident site. Officials said the calf suffered severe lung damage and a fractured leg and had been unable to stand or walk since the collision. It had been travelling with its mother when the incident occurred.
The accident took place around 7.30 am on December 20, when a passenger train struck a herd of elephants crossing the railway tracks between Jamunamukh and Kampur in the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway. Seven elephants were killed on the spot, while the injured calf was rushed for treatment.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed deep grief over the loss of wildlife and has directed the Forest Department to carry out a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision. He emphasised the urgent need to strengthen safety measures along known wildlife corridors, particularly during periods of low visibility when such accidents are more likely.
The site of the collision, about 126 kilometres from Guwahati, lies in a stretch frequently used by elephant herds to move between forest areas. Conservation groups have long identified the zone as high-risk and have repeatedly called for speed restrictions, better monitoring and enhanced surveillance along the tracks.
Wildlife experts say train-elephant collisions often occur when railway lines cut across traditional migration routes, forcing herds to cross busy tracks. The deaths have once again brought into sharp focus the growing conflict between expanding rail infrastructure and elephant conservation in Assam, renewing calls for stronger mitigation measures to prevent such tragedies.
