2 Elephants hit by train ...
Chennai Mail hit two wild elephants at Walayar and the engine had slipped from the track on Wednesday night. The mishap occurred at 10.45 p.m.The traffic on the track was restored at 8.10 a.m. on Thursday.The elephants had come from the Walayar forests and were hit by the train while they were crossing the track.Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has requested Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to make arrangements to reduce the speed of trains plying between Kanjikode and Walayar stations on the Coimbatore- Palakkad route.The request, contained in a letter sent to the Railway Minister, was made following the death of a wild elephant and calf which were run over by a train between Kanjikode and Walayar the other day.
Since most of the accidents occur during night and on the B line, the movement of trains should be restricted to A line alone, Benoy Viswam said in his letter.Announcements should be made at Palakkad junction and Coimbatore stations alerting passengers and engine drivers that no food items be thrown out of the trains between these two stations, Benoy said in his letter.The track between Kanjikode and Walayar has lots of embankments as the rails are laid in tunnels dug along rocks.
Most of the accidents happen when wildlife such as elephants and deers enter these tunnels and are not in a position to escape from the track because of the steep embankments.Hence steps should be taken to remove these embankments to facilitate the free movement of the animals.The Minister also requested installation of fluorescent warning boards in about 10 locations, which are believed to be the crossing points for elephants and other wildlife. These boards will act as an indicator for the engine drivers to be more cautious at these points.
Since most of the accidents occur during night and on the B line, the movement of trains should be restricted to A line alone, Benoy Viswam said in his letter.Announcements should be made at Palakkad junction and Coimbatore stations alerting passengers and engine drivers that no food items be thrown out of the trains between these two stations, Benoy said in his letter.The track between Kanjikode and Walayar has lots of embankments as the rails are laid in tunnels dug along rocks.
Most of the accidents happen when wildlife such as elephants and deers enter these tunnels and are not in a position to escape from the track because of the steep embankments.Hence steps should be taken to remove these embankments to facilitate the free movement of the animals.The Minister also requested installation of fluorescent warning boards in about 10 locations, which are believed to be the crossing points for elephants and other wildlife. These boards will act as an indicator for the engine drivers to be more cautious at these points.
