Elephant Herd Crosses Railway Tracks in Assam, Rajdhani Express Halted

A herd of elephants crosses a railway track in Assam, highlighting the need for safe wildlife movement corridors.

Rajdhani Express Halted as Elephant Herd Crossed Tracks in Hawaipur

A herd of wild elephants safely crossed railway tracks at Hawaipur in Assam’s Hojai district on Wednesday morning, August 19, 2026, prompting the Down Rajdhani Express to make a temporary halt. Forest department personnel spotted the elephants near the tracks and immediately alerted the loco-pilot and Lumding Railway Control Room. The coordinated response allowed the herd to cross safely before the train resumed its journey.

The incident took place at Km 167/8 under the Lanka Range of the Nagaon South Division. Assam Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah praised the forest staff, railway officials and loco-pilot for their prompt action, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring along elephant movement corridors.

Assam Elephant Corridor Safety Highlights Need for Wildlife Protection

 Assam’s elephant corridors provide vital routes for herds and highlight the need to protect wildlife habitats alongside railway infrastructure.

The safe crossing demonstrates how timely communication between forest and railway authorities can help prevent potentially fatal encounters between trains and wildlife. Railway tracks passing through elephant habitats present significant risks, particularly because high-speed trains can have very little time to react when animals approach the tracks.

The Hawaipur incident is especially significant in light of previous elephant-train accidents in Assam. In December 2025, seven elephants were killed after a Rajdhani Express collided with a herd in Hojai district, underscoring the continuing challenge of protecting elephant movement routes alongside railway infrastructure.