Nine trains cancelled, 13 regulated after Rajdhani hits elephant herd in Hojai
Rangiya–New Tinsukia Express, Guwahati–Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express, Guwahati-Badarpur Vistadome Express & New Tinsukia–Rangiya Express are among the cancelled trains
At least 7 elephants were killed after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Hojai. (Photo:PTI)
Guwahati, Dec 20: Train movement has been affected in Assam on Saturday, after seven elephants were killed and one was injured when a herd of pachyderms was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Hojai district early on December 20.
Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) chief spokesperson Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said nine trains have been cancelled, 13 regulated, and two short-terminated following the accident.
"In view of the derailment of train no. 20507 DN Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in the Jamunamukh-Kampur section under Lumding division, train running through the down line in the Lumding-Guwahati section has been affected," Sharma said.
He added that the NFR general manager and senior railway officials are at the site, and restoration work is going on.
Rangiya–New Tinsukia Express, Guwahati–Jorhat Town Jan Shatabdi Express, Guwahati-Badarpur Vistadome Express, and New Tinsukia–Rangiya Express are among the cancelled trains.
"The Train No. 15769 (Alipurduar-Mariani) will be short-terminated at Digaru and will remain cancelled between Digaru-Mariani, and 15770 (Mariani -Alipurduar) will be short originated from Digaru and will remain cancelled between Mariani-Digaru for the day," the NFR said.
Among the trains regulated are Sealdah-Sabroom Kanchanjunga Express, Dibrugarh-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, Dibrugarh-Kanyakumari Vivek Express, and New Tinsukia-SMVT Bengaluru Express, it added.
Earlier in the intervening night of Saturday, at least seven elephants were killed, and one was injured after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Hojai.
Five coaches and the train’s engine were also derailed. However, there have been no reports of any passengers getting injured in the incident.
Nagaon divisional forest officer Suhash Kadam said that the accident in Changjurai village is suspected to have occurred due to heavy fog in the area.
“Autopsy of the seven dead jumbos is underway, and treatment is on for the injured one by local veterinary doctors. Cremation will be done near the accident site. Legal formalities are being followed,” he said.
According to the NFR spokesperson the passengers of the affected coaches were temporarily accommodated in the vacant berths available in other compartments, and the train, without the derailed coaches, left the site for Guwahati at 6.11 am.
PTI