79 jumbos died in train collisions in 5 years: Govt

NEW DELHI: The Union environment ministry on Monday informed Lok Sabha that at least 79 elephants have died in train collisions across the country in the last five years.

In his written response to a Parliament question, MoS for environment Kirti Vardhan Singh said the figure is based on reports from state govt and UT administrations for the period 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Singh said the ministry does not maintain consolidated data on deaths of other wild animals on railway tracks, including in designated elephant corridors .

The minister, however, said several measures have been taken jointly by his ministry and railways to prevent such accidents. These include imposing speed restrictions in elephant habitats, pilot projects such as seismic sensor-based detection of elephants near tracks and construction of underpasses, ramps and fencing at vulnerable points.