1 week ago
Northeast Frontier Railway, Assam Coordinate to Protect Elephants
Elephants sometimes need to cross railway tracks in Assam.
Trains can be dangerous for them if they meet on the tracks.
Railway workers and forest officials are working together to keep the elephants safe.
On Wednesday, they stopped a train so a herd could cross.
Train drivers also helped elephants cross safely on August 15 and 16.
The railway uses special alerts to detect elephants near the tracks.
It also uses signs, patrols, speed limits and sounds like amplified honeybees to discourage elephants from approaching.
Underpasses are being built to give elephants safer paths away from railway tracks.
Northeast Frontier Railway and the Assam Forest Department helped elephant herds cross railway tracks safely in Assam.
Officials coordinated the stoppage of the Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express near Lumding–Habaipur on Wednesday.
Loco pilots also responded to elephant movements involving the Guwahati–Mariani Express and Narangi–Agartala Express.
NFR uses speed restrictions, patrols, warning signs, crew training and real-time forest-department coordination in vulnerable areas.
An AI-based Intrusion Detection System, Plan Bee devices and wildlife underpasses are among NFR’s preventive measures.
- Who
- Northeast Frontier Railway, the Assam Forest Department, railway officials and frontline train crews.
- What
- They coordinated train stoppages and introduced preventive measures to reduce elephant–train collisions.
- Where
- Railway sections across Assam, including Lumding–Habaipur, Lamsakhang–Patharkhola and Habaipur–Lamsakhang.
- When
- On Wednesday, with similar incidents reported on August 15 and August 16.
- Why
- To protect elephants crossing railway tracks and ensure safe train operations in elephant corridors.
Key facts
- Railway authority
- Northeast Frontier Railway, headquartered at Maligaon near Guwahati.
- Wednesday incident
- The Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express was stopped in the Lumding–Habaipur section to allow elephants to cross.
- August 15 incident
- The Guwahati–Mariani Express helped a herd cross safely in the Lamsakhang–Patharkhola section.
- August 16 incident
- The Narangi–Agartala Express took timely action in the Habaipur–Lamsakhang section.
- Detection technology
- NFR has deployed an AI-based Intrusion Detection System using Distributed Acoustic System technology.
- Additional measures
- NFR uses speed restrictions, enhanced patrolling, cautionary signage, vegetation clearance and crew sensitisation.
- Wildlife infrastructure
- Underpasses are being constructed at identified locations to facilitate safer elephant movement.
Sources
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