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Elephant deaths: Viswom writes to Mamata

Special Correspondent

Rise in accidents along railway track

Accidents on Coimbatore-Palakkad stretch Nine elephants killed in the past three years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forest Minister Benoy Viswom wrote to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee and Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed again on Friday seeking their intervention to end the recurring deaths of elephants in accidents along the railway track between Coimbatore and Palakkad.

In his letters, the Forest Minister noted that another wild cow elephant had been run over by train past midnight on Thursday at Walayar. It was only a month ago that a cow elephant and its baby were killed on the same stretch.

Recalling his earlier letters to the Union Ministers, Mr. Viswom said that nine elephants had been killed by train run-over in that track over the past three years. “The Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department had on various occasions brought this matter to the notice of the Railway authorities and sought preventive measures to pre-empt these untoward incidents. However, they turned a deaf ear to the requests. Protection of wildlife being a fundamental duty of every citizen of this country, I once again strongly suggest that precautionary measures to prevent recurrence of any such casualty should be taken urgently.”

Mr. Viswom urged that the following instructions should be issued immediately to the railway authorities to save the lives of elephants and other wild animals:

The speed of all trains plying in the Coimbatore-Palakkad route should be reduced to less than 50 kmph between Kanjikode and Walayar stations.

Since most of the accidents occur during the night hours and in ‘B’ line, the movement of trains from 11 p.m. to 5 a..m. may be restricted to ‘A’ line alone.

The track between Kanjikode and Walayar has lots of embankments as the rails are laid in tunnels dug along rocks. Most of the accidents occurred when the elephant and the deer enter these tunnels and are not in a position to escape because of the steep embankments. These embankments have to be removed.

Engine drivers should sound horn while passing through the entire route between Kanjikode and Walayar to alert the animals.

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