The Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP from Jorhat today expressed deep concern over the death of elephants after a collision involving the Rajdhani Express in Assam.
He said the incident shows how serious the human–animal conflict has become in the state. According to him, the death of eight elephants is a painful reminder that Assam’s natural environment is under severe pressure. He pointed out that such deaths are not accidental or sudden. They reflect the rapid loss and fragmentation of natural forests and wildlife corridors across Assam in recent years.
He said that unplanned development and weak environmental regulation under the present government have contributed to shrinking forest areas. This has disrupted traditional migration routes of elephants. He said that decisions on development projects are being taken without proper ecological safeguards and without considering long-term consequences. The Congress leader added that poor planning, lack of foresight, and absence of accountability have made these tragedies more frequent in Assam. 
He further said that development policies should focus on people, local communities, and the environment instead of only short-term profits. He warned that ignoring this balance will increase environmental damage and social costs in Assam in the coming years.
Earlier in the morning, reports confirmed that seven wild elephants were killed in a collision with the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express Train No. 20507. The accident led to the derailment of the locomotive and five coaches. Railway officials said the incident happened around 2:17 am on the Jamunamukh–Kampur railway section under the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway, about 126 kilometres from Guwahati.
Officials informed that the herd was crossing the railway track at the time of the accident. The loco pilot applied emergency brakes after seeing the animals but the speeding train could not stop before impact. The elephants died on the spot after colliding with the front portion of the locomotive.
The derailment forced railway authorities to begin immediate rescue and restoration work. A bulletin was issued early in the day confirming the details. Senior officers, including the General Manager of the zone and the Divisional Railway Manager of Lumding Division, rushed to the spot. Accident Relief Trains and technical teams from the divisional headquarters were deployed to clear the track.
Authorities activated helpline numbers to assist passengers and provide information to families. The numbers released by Northeast Frontier Railway are 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, and 0361-2731623.
