Five elephants killed on rail tracks in six months

Five elephants have been killed on railway tracks during the past six months, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
While two deaths occurred in Northeast Frontier Zone, South Western, Northern Railway and East Coast Railway each witnessed one case of elephant casualty from September, 2012 till February 28.
Railways has issued advisory to zonal railways to sensitise train crew and station masters on a regular basis to prevent such incidents.
Railways is holding regular meetings with the Environment Ministry to take remedial measures for controlling elephant casualties, Minister of State for Railways K J Surya Prakash Reddy said in a written reply.

Reddy said elephants corridors have been identified by the Forest Department and on such corridors, speed restrictions have been imposed and signage boards provided to pre-warn the train drivers.
Railways is also attempting to find a more lasting solution in the matter through measures such as construction of ramps and underpass, the cost of which will be borne by the forest department.
Nearly 67 animals died on railway tracks between 2006-11 which includes 62 elephants and a lion.
An adult elephant was struck by a train in a forest at the Buxa Tiger Reserve, a few miles from Alipurduar this month.