'Plan Bee' and other initiatives of NF Railway help save elephants (Guwahati)
'Plan Bee' and other initiatives of NF Railway help save elephants
(Guwahati)
The Sentinel Assam
July 21, 2021
Northeast Frontier Railway is committed towards protection of wild animals
in its jurisdiction. Various preventive measures initiated by the N.F.
Railway have resulted into saving lives of hundreds of elephants over the
years. Elephant dashing with trains is a serious threat for passengers and
for elephants which are a protected species under the Wildlife Protection
Act.
In an incident on 18 th July, 2021 at 04-25 hours, alert loco pilots Gopal
Prasad (LP) and S. C. Jatav (ALP) of Down Pola HSD train observed 3
elephants crossing the track between Bokajan - Khatkhati stations in
Lumding division. They immediately applied emergency brakes and saved lives
of the wild elephants.
N.F. Railway has taken various initiatives to avoid train-elephant
collision. An innovative solution 'Plan Bee' taken by NFR became
instrumental in reducing elephant dashing incidents to zero wherever it is
installed. A device was developed that plays amplified buzzing sound of
Honey Bees with a range up to 400 m. The first such device was installed at
the level crossing gate NN-274 between Azara and Kamakhya station under the
Rangiya Division. Thereafter, such devices have been installed at 55 other
locations vulnerable to elephant dashing all over NFR.
Some other measures that have been taken in close coordination with forest
department for safety of elephant such as-
Real time monitoring of elephant movement through forest officials posted
at divisional controls and whatsapp groups
Imposing speed restrictions at identified locations
Sensitizing train drivers/guards
Providing signage boards to alert drivers from approaching elephant
corridors
Constructing ramps or underpasses for elephants crossing
Clearing forest near tracks for better visibility etc.
The measures initiated by railways have been able to reduce the train –
elephant collision related incident as well as casualty by a great extent.
It may be mentioned that more than 950 elephants are saved all over Indian
Railway due to these initiatives since 2017.