The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has sought responses from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other authorities following the deaths of seven elephants near Guwahati after a Rajdhani Express collision in December 2025.
The green panel took suo motu cognizance of a newspaper report detailing the incident. According to the report, the Sairang–New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd of elephants on December 20, 2025, on the Jamunamukh–Kampur section under the Lumding division of the Northeast Frontier Railway. The collision resulted in the deaths of seven elephants and the derailment of the train’s engine and five coaches.
In its January 5 order, the NGT noted that “prima facie the facts and circumstances emerging from the news item raise substantial questions relating to the environment,” indicating the need for further investigation.
The tribunal has added the CPCB, the Assam government (through its special chief secretary for environment), the state’s principal chief conservator of forests, and the Assam State Pollution Control Board as respondents in the case. Notices have been issued to all parties, seeking their responses.
The matter has been scheduled for further hearing before the NGT’s eastern zonal bench in Kolkata on January 28.
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