India, Dec. 20 -- Seven elephants were killed after a New-Delhi bound Rajdhani Express rammed into a herd during the wee hours of December 20 morning. The engine, along with four coaches of the superfast express, were derailed even as no injuries to the passengers were reported. A grievously injured pregnant elephant delivered a male calf after the hit, while four sub-adults of the same herd and two other females perished in the collision. The male calf remains in a critical condition at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation in Kaziranga.

According to officials at North Frontier Railway, a division of Indian Railways, around 100 elephants were attempting to cross the railway track when the incident occurred, even as loc...