**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding wild animal deaths on railway tracks, particularly elephants. It reports 79 elephant deaths due to train collisions between 2020-21 and 2024-25 and addresses a specific incident in West Bengal. The document outlines preventive measures taken in coordination with the Ministry of Railways and highlights ongoing efforts to mitigate such incidents, including reports, workshops, and infrastructure adjustments.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Elephant Fatalities:**
* 79 elephant deaths due to train collisions were reported across various states between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
* Three elephants, including a mother and calf, were killed on railway tracks in West Bengal on July 18, 2025.
* **Preventive Measures:**
* Inter-ministerial meetings are being conducted between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Railways.
* Implemented speed restrictions in elephant habitats.
* Pilot projects using seismic sensor-based elephant detection are underway.
* Construction of underpasses, ramps, and fencing is in progress at various locations.
* **Reports and Guidelines:**
* The Wildlife Institute of India published a document on Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure.
* A comprehensive report titled "Suggested Measures to Mitigate Elephant Other Wildlife Train Collisions on Vulnerable Railway Stretches in India" was prepared, identifying 77 railway stretches (1,965.2 km) across 14 states for prioritized mitigation.
* The report has been shared with State Governments and the Ministry of Railways.
* **Capacity Building:**
* Railway officials attended capacity-building workshops in 2023 and 2024 at the Wildlife Institute of India to promote elephant conservation and protection.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Railways and other stakeholders to implement preventive measures.
* *Action Required:* Continue inter-ministerial coordination, oversee implementation of mitigation measures, and support further research and capacity building.
* **Ministry of Railways:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing speed restrictions, constructing underpasses and fencing, and ensuring train drivers are cautious in elephant corridors.
* *Action Required:* Enforce speed restrictions, implement infrastructure adjustments as recommended, and ensure railway personnel are trained and aware of wildlife protection measures.
* **State Governments/Union Territory Administrations:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for reporting wildlife casualties and implementing mitigation measures within their jurisdictions.
* *Action Required:* Provide accurate data on wildlife deaths, implement mitigation measures identified in the report, and coordinate with relevant agencies.
* **Railway Officials:**
* *Impact:* Need to be aware of elephant crossing areas and follow speed restrictions.
* *Action Required:* Implement caution when driving trains through identified elephant corridors and attend relevant training programs.
* **Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for providing expertise and guidance on mitigating the impact of linear infrastructure on wildlife.
* *Action Required:* Continue to provide technical support, conduct research, and offer capacity-building programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change.
Ministry of Railways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the railway network.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Kharagpur Tatanagar section: A railway section where elephants were killed by a train.
Paschim Midnapore district, West Bengal: District in West Bengal where the Kharagpur-Tatanagar railway section is located.
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun: An institution that conducted capacity building workshops for Railway officials and published a document on eco-friendly measures.
Ecofriendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure: A document published by the Wildlife Institute of India to assist project agencies in designing linear infrastructure.
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.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3975
TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025
Death of Wild Animals on Railway Tracks
3975. SHRI RAJA A:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the number of elephants and other wild animals died on the railway tracks, especially
in elephant corridors, during the last five years in the country;
(b) whether recently three elephants were killed by speeding express train at Kharagpur-
Tatanagar section in Paschim Midnapore district;
(c) if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether instructions were given to train drivers to be cautious about elephants
crossing in the corridors and limiting the speed; and
(e) the details of systemic preventive measures taken, including fencing the corridors to
save wild animals in future?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (e) As per information received from State Governments/Union Territory
Administrations, a total of 79 elephant casualties due to train collisions were
reported by various states between 2020-21 and 2024-25. Information on
elephants and other wild animals died on the railway tracks, especially in elephant
corridors are not collated in the Ministry.
As per the information received from the State of West Bengal, three elephants
including a mother and calf killed on railway tracks near Banstala between
Jhargarm and Banstala railway station in Kharagpur-Tatanagagar railway section
on 18th July 2025.
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 publisheda 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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