WTI gets green signal for train hit mitigation studies in West Bengal

New Delhi, November 2, 2010: The West Bengal government has given the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) the go-ahead to conduct studies to mitigate elephant deaths due to train hits in the state, as part of the organisation’s National Train Hits Mitigation Project.

This comes barely a month after seven elephants were mowed to death in the state when a train hit them on a railway track near Banerhat station.

West Bengal is second only to Assam in the number of elephant deaths due to train hits in the country and the accident starkly highlights the need for extensive study of the matter and its resolution.

“The first stage in the process is the identification of the site specific problem,” said Dr Anil Kumar Singh, Head of Conflict Mitigation Division at WTI. “Once they are established, the basic model of mitigation will be implemented with modifications.”  

The model provided by WTI includes basic precautions like speed limits for trains in critical zones, improving visibility and awareness of loco-pilots by leveling embankments and cutting bushes and effective patrolling to monitor the movements of the elephants, as the case may be. It involves a joint approach involving the state Forest Department and Railways authorities.

In Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand, successful implementation of this model has resulted in zero elephant deaths due to train hits since April 2002. A total of 20 elephants were killed in train accidents in Rajaji between 1987 and April 2002. Likewise, the model has begun to bear favourable results in several other Indian states including Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.