Buzzing bee devices in Dhenkanal district rly track soon

To curb burgeoning elephant deaths in train accidents, the railways and Odisha government have decided to install special devices on tracks that would create the sound of buzzing bees to scare away the jumbos.

A decision to this regard was made at a meeting on Friday which was attended by the officials of railways, and the energy and forest departments here.

"We have decided to introduce the new system on a pilot basis at Sadashivpur station in Dhenkanal district, said Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (APCCF) Sudarshan Panda.

Panda said the new system will be introduced in other places subsequently where the movement of elephants is frequent.

"Elephants usually avoid encountering honey bees. The devices will help in curbing fatal jumbo accidents on railway track," Panda said.

In April this year, four elephants were killed after a train hit them in Jharsuguda district.

The forest officials of Jharsuguda, Keonjhar and Dhenkanal forest divisions have been asked to identify spots for installation of the devices.

It was also decided in the meeting that a special mobile app will be created to keep a tab on the movement of the pachyderms. The app will give information on presence of elephants as well as snapping of electric wires, an official said.