Seven wild Asian elephants, including calves, were killed when a high-speed train collided with a herd crossing tracks in northeastern India, local officials say.
They say another calf was injured in the incident early Saturday in Hojai district, Assam state.
The North Eastern Frontier Railway says the train driver saw dozens of elephants and used the emergency brakes, but some animals were still hit.
Five coaches derailed after the collision, but no injuries were reported among passengers or staff on the Delhi-bound express. During the day, train cancellations and diversions were reported in the area.
The killed elephants were later examined by veterinarians and buried.
Assam has one of the largest elephant populations in India, with nearly 6,000 animals registered in the state.
Local railway tracks are often traversed by herds of elephants, but Saturday’s incident occurred in a location that was not a designated elephant corridor, Northeast Frontier Railway says.
