Environment
Timely Intervention : Large Herd Of Elephants Survive Railway Track Crossing As Forest Officials Alert Rajdhani Express In Assam’s Hojai District
Minister for environment and forests Jayanta Malla Baruah said the Down Rajdhani Express was stopped when an elephant herd was crossing the tracks at Hawaipur under Hojai’s Lanka Range in Nagaon South Division.
Picture : Representational Purpose Only
A major tragedy was averted in Assam’s Hojai district when forest personnel alerted the Rajdhani Express after spotting a large herd of elephants crossing a railway track, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Forest personnel are always on guard to ensure the safe passage of elephants through corridors along railway lines, Sarma said.
“Creating Corridors of Safety! In most of Assam’s elephant corridors along railway lines, @assamforest personnel are always on guard to allow safe passage to gentle giants,” Sarma said in a post on X.
Creating Corridors of Safety!
In most of Assam’s Elephant corridors along railway lines, @assamforest personnel are always on guard to allow safe passage to gentle giants 🐘
This morning in Hojai was no different where a high-speed train was alerted, saving precious lives🐘😊 pic.twitter.com/n1APOA1EPq
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 19, 2026
“This morning in Hojai was no different where a high-speed train was alerted, saving precious lives,” he added.
Sarma also shared the video showing the herd of elephants crossing the railway tracks while a train waited at a distance.
Minister for environment and forests Jayanta Malla Baruah said the Down Rajdhani Express was stopped when an elephant herd was crossing the tracks at Hawaipur under Hojai’s Lanka Range in Nagaon South Division.
”Alert action by our @assamforest staff, the loco-pilot, and the Lumding Railway Control Room ensured the herd crossed safely and the train resumed its journey. Another day, another safe crossing!”, the minister posted on ‘X’.
”Every day, our dedicated forest personnel remain watchful, quietly ensuring the safety of our wildlife. These may be silent stories, but each safe crossing is a story worth telling,” he added.
The incident comes close on the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Monday that no state can block or erect obstacles in traditional elephant corridors and that crop damage or property protection cannot be cited as a reason to impede wildlife movement.