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 activated the emergency brakes, but some animals were still hit.
Five carriages derailed following the collision, but no injuries were reported among passengers and staff on the Delhi-bound express. Train cancellations and diversions were reported in the area during the day.
The killed elephants were later examined by veterinarians and buried. Assam hosts one of the largest elephant populations in India, with nearly 6,000 elephants recorded in the state.
Local railway tracks are frequently crossed by elephant herds, but Saturday's incident occurred at a location that was not a designated elephant corridor, according to the Northeast Frontier Railway.
