Lok Sabha Question No. 2590 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-06
Subject: Elephant Deaths due to Train Accidents
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Nitesh Ganga Deb

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2590

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.03.2020

## Elephant Deaths due to Train Accidents

## 2590.  SHRI NITESH GANGA DEB:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the incidence of elephant deaths due to train accidents have increased in the country in recent years;
- (b) if so, the details of such deaths during the last three years, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Supreme  Court  has  issued  any  direction  to  the  Government  to  minimise  the elephant deaths due to train accidents; and
- (d) if so, the details and the outcome achieved as a result thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

- (a)&(b) As per the information received from States, the number of elephants killed in train accident has been showing a declining trend. The State-wise and year-wise details of elephant deaths due to train hits is at Annexure .
- (c)&(d) The Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in its order dated 2.9.2014 in Writ Petition W.P. (C) No.  107  of  2013  Shakti  Prasad  Nayak  Vs.  Union  of  India  &  Ors.,  issued  the  following directions:
- (i) Necessary  steps  should  be  taken  by  the  Railways  all  over  the  country  to  reduce  the speed  limit  of  running  trains  that  are  passing  through  dense  forests.  In  case  a  speed limit is not followed/ appropriate action should be taken against the erring drivers and officials concerned.
- (ii) Railways to take steps to discontinue the movement of goods trains at night between Siliguri and Alipurduar.
- (iii) Divert fast moving and night trains through Siliguri -Falakata route.

As  per  information  received  from  the  Ministry  of  Railways  (Railway  Board),  a number  of  measures  are  taken  by  Zonal  Railways  in  coordination  with  Ministry  of Environment,  Forest  &  Climate  Change  which  have  resulted  in  saving  of  elephants.  The preventive measures undertaken include the following:

- (i) Imposition  of  permanent  and  temporary  speed  restrictions  in  identified  elephant corridors.
- (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 track within railway land.
- (v) Construction  of  underpasses  and  ramps  for  movement  of  elephants  at  identified locations.  Work is in progress at one more location in East Central Railway.
- (vi) Installation of Honey Bee sound system to scare away the elephants from coming near the track.
- (vii) Provision of fencing at isolated locations both by Railway and Forest Department.
- (viii) Deputing  Forest  Department  staff  in  Railway  control  offices  to  liaison  with  Railway and engagement of elephant trackers by Forest Department for timely action by alerting Station Masters and Loco Pilots.
- (ix) Frequent coordination meetings between State Forest Department and Railway department.

Due  to  concerted  efforts  taken  by  the  Central  and  State  Governments  the  elephant deaths by train accidents has been reducing in the recent years.

***

## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  &  (b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2590 RAISED BY SHRI NITESH GANGA DEB REGARDING 'ELEPHANT DEATHS DUE TO TRAIN ACCIDENTS' DUE FOR REPLY ON 6.03.2020.

## Elephant Casualties in Train Accidents from 2016-17 to 2018-19

| S.No.   | State   |   2016-17 | 2017-18   | 2018-19       |
|---------|---------|-----------|-----------|---------------|
| 1       | 10      |        10 | 2         | Assam         |
| 2       | 3       |         2 | 6         | West Bengal   |
| 3       | 2       |         0 | 0         | Tamil Nadu    |
| 4       | 2       |         0 | 0         | Jharkhand     |
| 5       | 2       |         0 | 1         | Kerala        |
| 6       | 0       |         2 | 7         | Odisha        |
| 7       | 0       |         0 | NR        | Tripura       |
| 8       | 2       |         5 | 1         | Uttarakhand   |
| 9       | 0       |         0 | 0         | Uttar Pradesh |
| 10      | 0       |         1 | 2         | Karnataka     |
|         | Total   |        21 | 20        | 19            |