4 lion deaths on rail tracks

NEW DELHI: Four lions including cubs have been killed on the rail tracks in Gir Forest till June this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.

In the current year, there have been four deaths of lions or lion cubs upto June 2014 on railway line passing outside notified area of Gir Reserve Forest, Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha said in a written reply.

There was no death of lions in 2011 and 2013 and there was only one death of a lion in 2012.

He said metre gauge (MG) line from Visavadar to Talala passes through notified Gir Forest on which there are no incidences of death of lions.

Sinha said several measures have been taken for the MG track passing through Gir Forest which include speed of trains is restricted to 30km per hour, no train operation during night and cautious drive in the forest area.

For broad gauge lines where incidents of lion deaths have occurred recently, he said measures like whistle boards have been provided at the locations advised by the Forest Department.

Information about the movement of lions is being shared by the Forest Department with the Railways and loco pilots are informed to be careful.