The Central Government is concerned about the increase in the death of elephants and other wild animals in recent years. In order to prevent these accidents, the Regional Office of the Railway is continuously making efforts with the help of the Ministry of Environment and Forests of the Government of India. In a written reply to a question raised by MP Mahesh Poddar in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain gave this information.
Gohain said that the number of wild animals, including elephants killed on tracks in the year 2015, was increased to 29 in 2016.
This number declined marginally in 2017 but by November of the year 2018, 34 elephants and other wildlife died due to the accident on the rail paths.
He said that in order to curb the deaths of wild animals and elephants while crossing the tracks, a work plan has been prepared by regional railways in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forest, which includes imposing speed restrictions in identified locations, arranging sign mark boards to alert rail engine drivers about marked elephant corridors, making train crew and station masters sensitive on regular basis, cleanliness according to the requirement of vegetation around the railway under the railway land, construction of underground routes and ramp paths for movement of elephants at marked places; installation of fencing at deserted sites and the employees of the forest department have been deployed in the Railway Control Office to maintain contact with the Railways and the elephant trackers were deployed by the Forest Department to alert the station master and rail engine drivers and take timely action.