Centre seeks report on death of elephants on railway tracks in Assam's Hojai: Bhupender Yadav

Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Sunday (December 21, 2025) said the Centre has sought a report on the death of elephants in a collision between a train and a herd of tuskers in Assam’s Hojai district a day ago.

Mr. Yadav also said all States have been asked to monitor elephant movement along the railway tracks.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting on Project Elephant and the National Tiger Conservation Authority in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, Mr. Yadav said, "The railway authorities have been directed to coordinate with the forest departments of States on elephant movement along the tracks. A report on elephant deaths in Assam has been sought." He said coordination between train drivers and forest officials is essential.

Eight elephants were killed after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam's Hojai district early on Saturday (December 20). Five coaches and the train's engine also derailed.

"The district magistrates have also been asked to keep Forest Departments updated on elephant movement along highways," the Minister said.

"A team was formed with the Divisional Railway Manager(DRM) Railways, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and local people as stakeholders in the area concerned in Assam and in every such locality where elephant habitat and train lines exist," Mr. Yadav said.

He said there are 1,100 elephant accident zones or hotspots in the country, where such preventive measures were being taken.

The Minister said ₹112 crore has been allotted for the Sundarbans for the Tiger project in West Bengal and ₹344 crore for elephants in the last five years.

"But these funds remained mostly unutilised, he alleged.

While the Sunderbans attracts 9.5 lakh tourists annually, the Ranthambore tiger reserve witnesses ₹18-19 lakh.

"Such a beautiful zone of 2,500 sq km area with rich biodiversity, over 250 bird species, apart from big cats, deer and crocodile, hasn't been projected properly. There must be a balance between ecological concerns and development. This should be looked into by the State," he said.