Silchar: Six wild buffaloes were killed after being hit by a Guwahati-Badarpur election special train in the Lumding-Badarpur hill section of the Northeast Frontier Railway on Sunday, marking the second such incident in less than a week.The Railway Protection Force in Haflong said the collision occurred at the 112-km mark between Jatinga and New Harangajao stations when a herd strayed onto the tracks, leaving the loco pilot little time to respond.“All six animals died on the spot due to the impact of the collision. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among the passengers or the railway staff on board the election special,” an RPF source said.The latest incident has renewed concerns over track safety and carcass management in the ecologically sensitive hill section. A similar collision was reported on April 6, when the 13173 Down Kanchanjunga Express struck a herd of buffaloes inside Tunnel No. 16 near New Haflong station in Dima Hasao, killing eight buffaloes and injuring three others.Local residents and animal rights activists blamed inadequate preventive measures along the route. “The absence of proper fencing and digital surveillance along these vulnerable stretches makes it easy for cattle and wildlife to wander onto the tracks. These are recurring tragedies that can be avoided with better infrastructure,” a local resident said.Railway sources said authorities are likely to review monitoring protocols in animal-prone zones, with speed restrictions in identified corridors and additional barriers under consideration.
