The construction of corridors for elephants may still be far from complete for some years now through the National Highway stretch between Haridwar and Dehradun which passes through the Rajaji National Park, but the authorities are mulling over ways to check the rising incidents of jumbo deaths on the railway tracks. They have marked 18 sensitive points along the stretch of railway track where the elephant movement is more and the pachyderms get trapped on the track when a speeding train is approaching.

Considered a safe haven for the wildlife especially the elephant, Rajaji national park has of late emerged as a death trap for the elephants. Established in 1983, the national park has a 22 kilometre long railway track passing through the Motichur-Kansro range which is proving to be a deadly trap for the pachyderms. A few days ago, an adult elephant while trying to cross the railway track was mowed down by Nanda Devi express in the twilight hours. This accident took place about 10 kilometres from Haridwar. A month ago, the same train had crushed another elephant in the same area.

Taking cognisance of these rising incidents of death, the park authorities are planning to make small ramps for the elephants to cross over smoothly over the railway tracks. Speaking to The Pioneer, Rajaji field director Sanatan Sonkar said, “On the Haridwar – Dehradun railway track between Motichur and Kansro, eighteen such sensitive points have been earmarked from where the elephants cross the railway track. Many a time, elephants get panicky when they see the train approaching and get stuck on the railway track soon to be hit or run over by the train leading to their death. To prevent this, a solar wire fence is put on the both sides of the forest and only those ramp areas will be kept free for the elephants to pass. A mutual consent has been reached by the rly officials and the forest officials on the same.”

Principal chief conservator of forests of State Jai Raj and other officials including Sonkar and warden Pradeep Kumar had carried out an inspection during which the sensitive areas of the railway track were marked.

The national park director said that the security of elephants was a top priority for the authorities and all possible measures are being undertaken for the same.

Notably since the formation of the park, 29 elephants have died after being hit by the speeding trains on these deadly tracks. Some of the recent incidents include an elephant calf hit on Feb 17, another elephant injured seriously on March 7 and a female elephant hit fatally on March 20.