Seven elephants were killed, and one was injured after a herd of jumbos was hit by the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam’s Hojai district early Saturday, officials said. Five coaches and the train’s engine also derailed, officials said. Initially, all eight elephants were reported to have been killed, though later it was said that one of the calves was found injured. No passengers were injured in the accident, which occurred at 2.17 am.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of the BJP has asked the Forest department to conduct a detailed enquiry and secure wildlife corridors, while state Congress president Gaurav Gogoi blamed “unplanned and poorly regulated development under the present government” for the accident. Top Forest Department officers have reached the site and will take up the matter with Railway officials to prevent such incidents. Several trains have been cancelled or short-terminated following the mishap.