SEVEN elephants, including young calves, were killed when a Delhi-bound express train struck a herd crossing the tracks in Assam early Saturday, officials confirmed.

The Northeast Frontier Railway said in a BBC report that the train driver had spotted dozens of elephants on the tracks and applied emergency brakes, but some animals could not be avoided.

The collision caused five train carriages to derail, though no passengers or staff were injured. Train services in the area experienced cancellations and diversions throughout the day.

Veterinarians later examined the deceased elephants before they were buried.

Assam, home to nearly 6,000 elephants, has one of the largest populations of the species in India. While herds frequently cross railway tracks in the state, authorities noted that this particular location was not a designated elephant corridor.

The Northeast Frontier Railway has previously implemented measures to prevent wildlife-train collisions, and local authorities continue to explore solutions to reduce such incidents.(MyTVCebu)

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