**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1322, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addresses the issue of elephant deaths due to train collisions. Government data indicates 81 elephant casualties were reported between 2019-20 and 2023-24. To mitigate further casualties, the Ministry, in coordination with the Ministry of Railways, has implemented several measures, including speed restrictions in elephant habitats, pilot projects utilizing seismic sensors for elephant detection, and the construction of underpasses, ramps, and fencing. The Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, in consultation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has published "Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure" to guide project agencies in designing infrastructure that minimizes human-animal conflict. Capacity building workshops were conducted for Railway officials in 2023 and 2024 by the Wildlife Institute of India. A comprehensive report, "Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant Other Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India," has identified 77 high-risk railway stretches, covering 1,965.2 km across 14 states, as priority areas for mitigation. This prioritization is based on field surveys across 127 identified railway stretches spanning 3,452.4 km. The report, detailing identified stretches and site-specific interventions, has been shared with State Governments and the Ministry of Railways.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and conservation.
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the country's railway network.
201920: Start year of the period during which elephant deaths due to train collisions were recorded.
202324: End year of the period during which elephant deaths due to train collisions were recorded.
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun: An autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change focused on wildlife research and training, located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Ecofriendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure: A document published to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure to reduce human-animal conflicts.
Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant Other Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India: A comprehensive report prepared after field surveys across 127 identified railway stretches detailing measures to mitigate wildlife train collisions.
14 States: Number of states across which 77 prioritized railway stretches for mitigation are located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1322
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Death of Elephants due to Train Collision
1322. MR PATHAN YUSUF:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether according to the Government data, 24,738 elephants have died due to train
collisions between 2019-20 and 2023-24;
(b) if so, the details of accountability measures taken/being taken by the Government to
prevent further casualties;
(c) the list of 77 high-risk railway stretches identified for mitigation of such casualties; and
(d) the details of interventions planned at these sites along with the implementation
timeline?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) As per information received from State Governments/Union Territory
Administrations, a total of 81 elephant casualties due to train collisions were
reported by various states between 2019-20 and 2023-24.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, in coordination with the
Ministry of Railways, has taken several measures to prevent elephant deaths on
railway tracks including conducting inter-ministerial meetings. Speed restrictions
in elephant habitats, pilot projects like seismic sensor-based elephant detection,
construction of underpasses, ramps, fencing, have been undertaken at various
locations.
Further, the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun in consultation with the Ministry
of Environment Forest, and Climate Change and other stakeholders has published
a document namely ‘Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear
Infrastructure’ to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure,
including railways lines, in a manner that reduces human-animal conflicts.Capacity building workshops for Railway officials were conducted in 2023 and
2024 at the Wildlife Institute of India to sensitize them on various aspects of
elephant conservation and protection.
A comprehensive report titled “Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant & Other
Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India” has been
prepared after field surveys across 127 identified railway stretches spanning a
total of 3,452.4 km. Based on the intensity of wildlife movement, 77 railway
stretches covering 1,965.2 km across 14 States have been prioritized for
mitigation along with site-specific interventions. The report containing the details
of the identified stretches and the mitigation measures has been also shared with
the State Governments and the Ministry of Railways.
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