Lok Sabha Question No. 1902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Animals Killed in Train Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1902 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## ANIMALS KILLED IN TRAIN ACCIDENTS

1902. SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that increasing number of animals, especially elephants have got killed in train accidents over the last three years and the current year;
- (b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the number of different animals killed during the said period; year and State-wise;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  in  consultation  with  the  concerned departments  worked  out  some  effective  action  plan  to  control  such accidents; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (d) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1902 BY SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 03.07.2019 REGARDING ANIMALS KILLED IN TRAIN ACCIDENTS

- (a)  The  details  of  elephants  killed  on  railway  tracks  due  to  train accidents year-wise and zone-wise during the last three years and the current year (upto 20 June, 2019) are as under:
- (b)  The  details  of  animals/cattle's  viz  lions,  leopard,  buffalo,  cow  etc (other  than  elephants)  killed/run  over  on  railway  tracks  due  to  train accidents year-wise and zone-wise during the last three years and the current year (upto 20 June, 2019) are as under:

| Year               | 2016   | 2017   | 2018   | 2019   |
|--------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Railway            |        |        |        |        |
| East Coast         | 0      | 0      | 1      | 2      |
| Northern           | 1      | 0      | 3      | 2      |
| North Eastern      | 0      | 2      | 2      | 0      |
| Northeast Frontier | 9      | 10     | 9      | 1      |
| Southern           | 4      | 0      | 1      | 0      |
| South Eastern      | 5      | 1      | 7      | 0      |
| South East Central | 0      | 1      | 0      | 0      |
| South Western      | 0      | 1      | 3      | 0      |
| Total              | 19     | 15     | 26     | 5      |

| Year               | 2016   | 2017   | 2018   | 2019   |
|--------------------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| Railway            |        |        |        |        |
| Northern           | 457    | 445    | 351    | 34     |
| North Central      | 2283   | 3818   | 4826   | 902    |
| North Eastern      | 649    | 932    | 1146   | 442    |
| North Western      | 1080   | 1222   | 1476   | 603    |
| South Central      | 353    | 413    | 460    | 110    |
| South East Central | 125    | 225    | 393    | 118    |
| South Western      | 0      | 0      | 2      | 4      |
| Western Railway    | 24     | 39     | 45     | 7      |
| West Central       | 2974   | 4589   | 3926   | 1259   |
| Total              | 7945   | 11683  | 12625  | 3479   |

- (c)  &  (d)  An  action  plan  has  been  worked  out  by  Zonal  Railways  in coordination with Ministry of Environment and Forest to curb the death of animals and elephants while crossing railway track which include the following:
- (i) Imposition of speed restrictions in identified locations,
- (ii) Provision of signage board,
- (iii) Sensitization of Train Crew and Station Masters on a regular basis,
- (iv) Need based clearance of vegetation on the sides of the track within railway land,
- (v) Construction of underpasses and ramps for the movement of elephants at identified locations
- (vi) Provision of fencing at isolated locations, and,
- (vii) Forest Department staff deputed in Railway control offices to liaison with  Railway  and  elephant  trackers  engaged  by  Forest  Department  for timely action by alerting station master and loco pilots.

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