‘Trains running over elephants declining’

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 21: The incidents of elephant being run over by trains in Assam have been on the decline.

Talking to The Sentinel in this connection, NF Railway CPRO Prav Jyoti Sarma today said: “Such incidents were more in areas like Jamumukh, Jogigaon, Dimapur, Khatkhati etc. However, of late there’s better coordition between NF Railway and the State Forest Department. The railway staff members have been provided with walkie-talkies, ebling them to inform forest officials whenever they see any elephant herds coming down.”

Sarma said: “Earlier Guwahati-Dibrugarh trains had to be delayed and slowed down due to the elephant mece. However, that problem is on the wane now.” On double lines, Sarma said: “The works of the Bongaigaon-Goalpara line have already been started, and that of the Lumding-Dibrugarh line has been sanctioned.” He said that as promised by Minister of State Railways Rajen Gohain in his first press conference in Guwahati after holding the portfolio, the Satabdi Express is likely to be started between Dibrugarh and Guwahati from March-end this year.