Lok Sabha Question No. 841 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Elephants Killed on Railway Tracks
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Haji Fazlur Rehman

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 841 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## ELEPHANTS KILLED ON RAILWAY TRACKS

- †841.   SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the Zone-wise number of elephants killed in accidents on railway tracks  across  the  country  during  the  last  three  years  and  the current year;
- (b)  whether the Railways has conducted any investigation into the said matter;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the steps taken/being taken by the Railways to prevent recurrence of such incidents on the railway tracks in the country in future?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)

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

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 841 BY SHRI HAJI FAZLUR REHMAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.02.2024 REGARDING ELEPHANTS KILLED ON RAILWAY TRACKS

- (a)  The  Zone-wise  details  of  number  of  elephant  deaths  on  railway tracks across the country during the last three years and the current year are as under:
- (b)  to  (e)  In  cases  of  elephant  deaths  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 fencing at isolated locations,
- (iii)  Construction  of  underpasses  and  ramps  for  the  movement  of elephants at identified locations,
- (iv) Provision of signage boards at all identified elephant corridors to pre-warn the loco pilots,
- (v) Sensitization of Train Crew and Station Masters on a regular basis,

| Railways                   | 2021              | 2022              | 2023              | 2024*             |
|----------------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------|
| East Coast Railway         | 3                 | 0                 | 4                 | 0                 |
| Northern Railway           | 2                 | 0                 | 2                 | 0                 |
| North Eastern Railway      | 2                 | 1                 | 3                 | 0                 |
| Northeast Frontier Railway | 5                 | 8                 | 7                 | 1                 |
| Southern Railway           | 4                 | 2                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| South Eastern Railway      | 2                 | 3                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| South Western Railway      | 1                 | 0                 | 0                 | 0                 |
| * Upto 30.01.2024          | * Upto 30.01.2024 | * Upto 30.01.2024 | * Upto 30.01.2024 | * Upto 30.01.2024 |

(vi)  Need  based  clearance  of  vegetation  on  the  sides  of  the  track within railway land, (vii) Installation of Honey bee sound systems at locations, which are prone to crossing of elephants, (viii)  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, (ix)  Innovative  Intrusion  Detection  System  to  detect  movement  of elephants  across  Railway  track  has  been  introduced  in  Lumding  Hawaipur section (24 Km) of Lumding Division in Assam and in Chalsa - Hasimara section (60 Km) of Alipurduar Division in West Bengal.

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