Elephants getting hit by running trains is not a stray incident in the country. There have been frequent such cases when many of a herd died on the tracks after being mowed down by a train while crossing the railway lines which pass through an elephant corridor. An elephant corridor is the route the pachyderms take when they move from one place to another, often in search of food or otherwise.
This is a common occurrence in the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu, where herds of elephants move to Karnataka or Kerala depending upon their migratory path and cross railway tracks on their way. Recently, two major risk areas for such accident on tracks were flagged. One is the Mountain Railway in Nilgiris and the other is the Mudumalai National Park. Both these areas have railway tracks going through them which increases the risk of elephants getting hit by speeding trains.
Indian Masterminds spoke to Dr. Shekhar Kumar Niraj, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu, about the steps being taken by the forest department to avert such rail accidents and mitigate all risk factors that threaten elephants while moving in their corridors.
SPEEDING OF TRAIN
In the last few months, 11 elephants have died in train hits. The Chief Warden has been assessing the situation and is holding meeting after meeting with the railway officials. “Two tracks cross the forest area. One is in the Mudumalai forest, other is in the mountain railway. I visited the sites and sat with railway officials in half a dozen meetings. Most of the cases are a result of the speeding of trains and visibility issues that loco drivers face. After analysing everything, we sorted out a detailed plan of action and sent it to Ministry of Environment, Forestry & Climate Change, Tamil Nadu, for approval. We are hopeful that once this plan gets implemented, we will be able to curb these accidents.”
PLAN OF ACTION
The budget of the plan is around 5.5 crores. Dr. Niraj and his team have made the plan after going over initiatives taken by the forest departments of other states on similar matter. “Many plans were made earlier but none of them were implemented on the ground. This time, we hope to see a change. The action plan includes sensitization of railway personal on the matter though sessions organized from time to time. We also plan to build under and over passes through which the elephants and other animals can have safe passage,” the officer said.
They are also trying to establish better communication with the railway department to monitor the frequency of trains, install trackers, watch towers and electronics-based system which can signal the arrival of animals beforehand. “The clear communication will help us to connect with railway control room so that the loco drivers could be made aware for slowing down or stopping depending upon the situation. We have also made a plan for regular cleaning of the tracks,” Dr. Niraj said.
MOUNTAIN RAILWAY IN NILGIRIS
The other issue in the area is about the mountain railway in Nilgiris. This railway is 100 years old. Railway department has built several retaining walls and recently one of the walls felt on a migratory path for elephants. Due to which the animals had to walk along the tracks with the added risk of falling down into the valley. This issue made headlines, after which the matter was taken up in high court. “The wall which fell down was recently build. Railways didn’t coordinate with us before.”
The matter was published on 3 February and on the orders of the High Court, the Chief Warden went for inspection on 5 February. He had meetings with officials of railways and inspected a 28-km stretch on trolley with them. He inspected all the old and new walls including other infrastructure. During his visit, he also saw a herd of elephants and also noted the problem of plastic pollution on the tracks.
Dr. Niraj has already conveyed the concerns to the railways in the hope to work together and sort out all the issues. On 14 February, he is going to submit the report in High Court with all his recommendations.
