49 elephants killed on railway tracks since 2010

NEW DELHI: As many as 49 elephants have been killed on railway tracks since 2010 including five in January this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

In a written reply, Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said his ministry is holding regular meetings with the Environment Ministry to take remedial measures for controlling elephant casualties.

"Elephant corridors have been identified by the Forest Department and on such corridors speed restrictions have been imposed and signage boards provided to pre-warn the train drivers," he said.

He also said that advisories have been issued to zonal Railways to sensitise train crew and station masters on regular basis.

"In consultation with the Environment and Forest Ministry and the forest departments of state governments, Railways is also attempting to find a more lasting solution in the matter through deposit works consisting of measures such as construction of ramps and underpasses etc, the cost of which will be borne by the Forest Department," Bansal said.

The highest number of 20 elephant casualty on rail tracks took place in 2010, followed by 15 last year. Nine such incidents were reported in 2011.

Last year in December, five elephants were killed while passing through rail tracks in the East Coast Railway Zone in Odisha's Ganjam district.