An incident attracting public attention occurred in the Hojai district of Assam. A herd of wild elephants was on the railway tracks, where the Rajdhani Express train was supposed to pass. Forest department employees noticed the elephants in time and immediately informed the train driver and the Lumding control center. Following this, the movement of the Rajdhani Express was halted.
This incident took place in the Hawaipur area of the Hojai district, which is part of the Lanka Range and Nagaon South division. The elephants were crossing the railway lines. Thanks to the vigilance of the forest department employees and quick coordination with the railways, the train was stopped in time. After the elephants safely crossed the track, the train resumed its journey.
A video that appeared after the incident shows forest department employees standing near the railway line. They are signaling the train to stop while a herd of elephants crosses the track from the other side.
The Minister of Forests of Assam, Jayant Mallah Barua, shared a video of this situation. He stated that the Rajdhani Express was stopped in Hawaipur, at approximately kilometer 167/8, to allow the herd of elephants to cross the tracks safely. He highly praised the vigilance of the forest department employees, the driver, and the Lumding control center.
The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, also shared this case, acknowledging the merits of the forest department employees. He explained that in areas where elephant migration routes pass, forest workers constantly monitor along the railway lines to ensure the safe passage of the elephants.
The safety of elephants on railway tracks in Assam remains a serious issue. In December 2025, a collision between the Rajdhani Express and a herd of elephants occurred in the same Hojai district, resulting in the death of seven elephants. Thus, the timely actions of the forest department this time prevented a major tragedy.