110 Animals Came Under Train Wheels In SCR In 2019

Hyderabad: In an alarming statistics, Railway minister Piyush Goyal told Parliament that thirty one animals die everyday on the railway tracks. Goyal said that 35,732 animals, including 65 elephants were run over by trains over the past three years.

The South Central Railways which covers most portion of AP and Telangana have witnessed 110 deaths till now. Also, West Central railways have recorded the highest number of animal deaths.

Experts were quoted saying to a leading daily that West Central Railway accounted for highest deaths because the line passed through one of the biggest forest ranges which included the Satpura National Park, Vindhyachal, Bharatpur, Satna and Jabalpur.

In South Western Railway, the line mainly passes through ghats which has many bridges, so the animal deaths are very rare in the area.

In the South Central Railway, most animals that are killed are cattles, Goyal informed the House.

"The death of the protected animals takes place mostly in states like Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand where the track passes through thick forests. Although drivers reduce the speed in animal sensitive areas, but it’s difficult if an animal suddenly comes in front of the track," he said.

The ministry said that zonal railway divisions is working in tandem with the ministry and taking up preventive measures such as imposition of speed restrictions in identified locations where animals cross the tracks and provision of signage boards for drivers.