Seven wild Asian elephants, including calves, were killed when a high-speed train collided with a herd crossing the tracks in north-eastern India, local officials say.
They say another calf was injured in the incident early on Saturday in Hojai district, Assam state.
The Northeast Frontier Railway reports that the train driver spotted dozens of elephants and applied the emergency brakes, but tragically, some animals were still hit.
Five carriages derailed after the collision; fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers and staff on the Delhi-bound express. Train cancellations and diversions occurred in the vicinity throughout the day.
The remains of the elephants were later examined by veterinarians and buried. Assam has one of India's largest elephant populations, with nearly 6,000 recorded in the state.
Local railway tracks are often crossed by elephant herds, but Saturday's incident happened at a location that was not a designated elephant corridor, according to the Northeast Frontier Railway.
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