The December 2025 train accident that killed seven elephants—including a calf—in Assam’s Hojai district was no ordinary accident. It symbolized the growing conflict between India’s development model and environmental sensitivity. The high-speed train not only killed the elephants but also derailed the engine and several coaches, highlighting the serious threat such incidents pose not only to wildlife but also to human life and public property.
The elephant is India’s “National Heritage Animal” and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Despite this, the annual deaths of elephants on railway tracks raise questions about whether our development is truly sustainable, or is it proceeding at the expense of nature. According to government data, hundreds of elephants have been killed in train accidents over the past two decades, with Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand being the worst-affected states.
India has seen a rapid expansion of railway lines, national highways, power transmission lines, and other linear infrastructure. This expansion was considered essential for economic progress, but problems arise when these projects encroach upon forests, grasslands, and wetlands without adequate ecological planning. Railway tracks are particularly dangerous because trains cannot change direction or stop suddenly. Elephants, on the other hand, have limited vision, and their heavy bodies hinder rapid reaction.
Elephants are large-scale migratory animals and rely on traditional migratory routes for food, water, and breeding. When railway lines cut off these corridors, elephants have no choice but to cross the tracks. Unfortunately, many accident-prone areas have still not been officially declared “elephant corridors.” The Hojai region of Assam is a prime example, where legal protection has been lacking despite regular elephant movement for years.
Excessive train speeds are a major cause of accidents. Even in environmentally sensitive areas, trains often reach speeds of 90 to 110 kilometers per hour. At such speeds, it is nearly impossible to stop a train in the face of elephants. Temporary speed restrictions and warnings often prove to be mere formalities. This demonstrates that time and efficiency continue to be prioritized over environmental safety in railway operations.
Visibility problems also contribute to these accidents. Most elephant-train collisions occur at night or early morning, when fog, rain, or dense vegetation limit train drivers’ vision. This situation is even more difficult in Assam and Northeast India, where unpredictable weather is common. Furthermore, the railway tracks themselves attract elephants. Food waste thrown by passengers, salty soil, and ripening crops near the tracks draw elephants to vulnerable areas, especially during the harvest season.
The design of railway tracks also often exacerbates the problem. High embankments, concrete walls, and fences trap elephants on the tracks. Cubs are unable to escape quickly, slowing the entire herd down and increasing the risk of accidents. Furthermore, a lack of proper coordination between the Forest Department and the railways is a major challenge. Patrol teams often fail to report elephant presence to the railway control room in time, preventing accidents.
After every major disaster, steps such as investigations, compensation, and temporary bans are taken, but these are all reactive measures. Environmental impact assessments often remain a formality, and changes in animal behavior after project approval are not taken seriously. The need is to treat conservation not as an obstacle to development, but as an essential part of it.
To protect elephants, it is essential to provide legal protection to all known migratory corridors, whether they are already notified or not. Permanent speed limits should be implemented in all such areas. As a technological solution, AI-based intrusion detection systems, which detect elephant movements and alert train drivers in time, could prove extremely effective. Limited use of these systems is not sufficient; they need to be adopted nationwide.
Additionally, scientifically designed underpasses, overpasses, and earthen ramps can play a vital role in ensuring safe elephant transit. According to the Ministry of Environment, such structures can significantly reduce elephant mortality. Trimming fruit trees along tracks, regular cleaning, and adopting a zero-waste policy on trains are equally important. Schemes like “Plan B,” which uses the sound of bees to deter elephants, offer practical and humane solutions.
International experience shows that when conservation is taken seriously, a balance between development and wildlife is possible. Countries like Canada, Australia, and the Netherlands have significantly reduced accidents through wildlife transit structures and strict speed controls. India can adapt these models to its own circumstances.
The deaths of elephants are not only a moral failure, but also an economic loss. Train accidents, human casualties, property damage, and service disruptions—all cost far more than preventative measures. Ultimately, elephant deaths on railway tracks are the result of policy failure, not technology.
India must decide whether its development will proceed at the expense of nature or coexist with it. Only through environmentally-minded engineering, legal protection, and technological innovation can we ensure that the train of progress doesn’t crush wildlife.
