Indian Express train crosses railway tracks and kills seven elephants

Seven wild Asian elephants, including calves, were killed in northeast India after a high-speed train collided with a herd of elephants crossing the tracks, local officials said.

Another calf was injured in the incident in Assam’s Khojai district earlier on Saturday, they said.

North East Frontier Railway said train drivers spotted dozens of elephants and used emergency brakes, but some animals were still hit.

Five carriages derailed after the collision, but no passengers or staff on the Delhi-bound express were injured. Train cancellations and diversions were reported in the area during the day.

The killed elephants are then examined by veterinarians and buried.

Assam has one of the largest elephant populations in India, with nearly 6,000 elephants recorded in the state.

North East Frontier Railway said elephants regularly cross its tracks but Saturday’s incident was not on a designated elephant corridor.