22 July 2019


India lost 60 elephants and eight tigers to train accidents in the last three years as several railway tracks run through forest areas, the Environment Ministry told Parliament on Monday.

Responding to a query on death of animals due to train accidents, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said movement of wild animals in search of food and water brings them in close proximity to railway lines, leading to accidental deaths.

According to the data provided by the minister, 60 elephants, eight tigers and one lion were killed in train accidents between 2016 and 2018-19.

"Rail tracks do pass through forest areas also. Movement of wild animals in search of food and water, brings them in very close proximity to railway lines and at times, leads to accidental deaths.

"The state/Union territories'' Forest Departments manage the forest and wildlife habitats with cooperation of other sectors," Javadekar told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

The ministry said it has no plan to remove railway tracks from forest areas but several measures have been taken to track animal movement around railway track, especially that of lion.

"Adequate number of trackers have been deployed for day-night patrolling to watch lion movement along railway tracks.

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