Jalpaiguri (WB): The Forest department and the Railways on Saturday admitted that communication gap between the two departments was responsible for crushing of elephants by trains and decided to take certain measures to prevent such incidents.
A forest official would be permanently posted in
Alipurduar railway junction to alert the railways about the
presence of elephants near the tracks as communication gap had
led to death of elephants on tracks, Chief Conservator of
Forest (North Bengal), Balaram Jakhar said after attending a
meeting of officials of the two departments here.
In such a situation the railways could take preventive
steps, Alipurduar Divisional Railway Manager, Sachhidananand
Singh said. It would reduce the communication gap, said Singh
who also attended the meeting at the Garumara forest office.
It was also decided to clear off bushes 30 m from the
track on both sides, he said.
Officials of both the departments would meet every
three months to review the situation, Jakhar said.
Seven elephants died after being hit by a goods train
in Jalpaiguri district on September 22.
PTI
