Measures to prevent elephant deaths on rail tracks

by Ananda Kannangara

A Railway Department official commenting yesterday on the deaths of about six wild elephants on railway tracks in the Anuradhapura and Batticaloa districts during the past few months, said that area Wildlife Department officials who travel in train engines should be more vigilant over the roaming elephants to avoid such accidents in the future.

According to the Railway Department, all measures have been taken by the Department to save the lives of wild elephants in the respective areas and the officials of the Wildlife Department have been instructed to travel in trains alongside train drivers during the day and night.

Railways Commercial Superintendent G.W.S Sisira Kumara told the Sunday Observer that all train drivers have been instructed to be extra vigilant when their trains are moving in elephant infested areas in the country.

Meanwhile the deaths of two wild elephants at the 9th mile post between Minneriya and Galoya were reported on Thursday night. According to the driver of the train, four elephants had been hit by the train around 11 pm and they had disappeared into the nearby jungle.

Later it was found that two elephants had succumbed to their injuries.

The Railway Department also said that special security will be deployed in trains, especially at night in future to lookout on roaming elephants.