Lok Sabha Question No. 1443 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-19
Subject: Elephants Killed in Rail Accidents
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: SRIRAM MALYADRI, DHARAM VIRA GANDHI, JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1443 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2018

## ELEPHANTS KILLED IN RAIL ACCIDENTS

1443.  SHRI MALYADRI SRIRAM:

SHRI DHARAM VIRA:

SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  the number of wild life including elephants killed on the railway tracks during the last three years and the current year in the country, zone-wise;
- (b)  whether the Railways have conducted any inquiry in the matter;
- (c)  if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d)    the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Railways  to  check  recurrence  of such incidents on the Railway tracks in the country in future?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (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.  1443  BY  SHRI  MALYADRI  SRIRAM,  SHRI DHARAM VIRA AND SHRI JANARDAN SINGH SIGRIWAL TO BE ANSWERED IN  LOK SABHA ON 19.12.2018 REGARDING ELEPHANTS KILLED IN RAIL ACCIDENTS

(a) The details of wild life including elephants killed on the railway tracks year-wise and zone-wise during the last three years and the current year are as under:

| Railway            |   Year-wise details |   Year-wise details |   Year-wise details | Year-wise details               | Year-wise details   |
|--------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------|---------------------------------|---------------------|
|                    |                2015 |                2016 |                2017 | 2018 (upto 30 th November 2018) | Total               |
| East Central       |                   1 |                   0 |                   0 | 0                               | 1                   |
| East Coast         |                   2 |                   0 |                   0 | 1                               | 3                   |
| Northern           |                   1 |                   1 |                   0 | 3                               | 5                   |
| North Eastern      |                   0 |                   0 |                   3 | 3                               | 6                   |
| Northeast Frontier |                   9 |                   9 |                  10 | 9                               | 37                  |
| Southern           |                   0 |                   4 |                   0 | 0                               | 4                   |
| South Central      |                   0 |                   5 |                   1 | 1                               | 7                   |
| South Eastern      |                   0 |                   5 |                   1 | 7                               | 13                  |
| South East Central |                   2 |                   3 |                   4 | 3                               | 12                  |
| South Western      |                   0 |                   0 |                   1 | 3                               | 4                   |
| West Central       |                   2 |                   2 |                   4 | 4                               | 12                  |
| Western            |                   2 |                   0 |                   1 | 0                               | 3                   |
| Total              |                  19 |                  29 |                  25 | 34                              | 107                 |

- (b) to (d) In cases of death of wild life/elephants on railway tracks, Zonal Railways investigate the incidences and conduct inquiry wherever necessary.  Based  on  the  findings  in  investigation/enquiry,  a  number  of preventive  measures  are  taken  by  Zonal  Railways  in  coordination  with Ministry of Environment and Forest which include the following:
- (i) Imposition of speed restrictions in identified locations,
- (ii) Provision of signage board to warn loco pilots about identified elephant corridors,
- (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,
- (vi)  Forest Department staff deputed in Railway control offices to liaison with  Railway  and  elephant  trackers  engaged  by  forest  dept.  for  timely action by alerting station master and loco pilots.

****