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21 Nov 2023·Source: The Indian Express
2 min
Environment & EcologyEnvironment & EcologyPolity & GovernanceNEWS

Tragedy in Assam: Rajdhani Express Kills Seven Elephants, Five Workers Injured

Seven elephants killed by Rajdhani Express in Assam, highlighting human-wildlife conflict and railway safety.

Tragedy in Assam: Rajdhani Express Kills Seven Elephants, Five Workers Injured

Photo by Luan Fonseca

In a tragic incident in Assam, the Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express mowed down seven elephants, including calves, near the Balipara-Belsiri section. This devastating event also led to the derailment of five railway workers, who sustained injuries. The accident occurred in an area known to be an elephant corridor, underscoring the persistent challenge of human-wildlife conflict, particularly along railway tracks.

Despite measures like speed restrictions and warning signs, such incidents continue to highlight the need for more robust mitigation strategies, including underpasses, overpasses, and improved early warning systems. This event is a stark reminder of the environmental impact of infrastructure development and the urgent need for integrated planning to protect India's wildlife.

मुख्य तथ्य

1.

Seven elephants killed by Sairang-New Delhi Rajdhani Express in Assam.

2.

Five railway workers derailed and injured.

3.

Incident occurred near Balipara-Belsiri section, an elephant corridor.

UPSC परीक्षा के दृष्टिकोण

1.

Conservation status of Indian Elephants and related legal frameworks (WPA, Project Elephant).

2.

Causes and consequences of human-wildlife conflict.

3.

Impact of infrastructure development (railways, highways) on biodiversity and environment.

4.

Mitigation strategies for human-wildlife conflict, including technological solutions and integrated planning.

5.

Role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in developmental projects.

दृश्य सामग्री

Elephant-Train Conflict Zones & Incident Site in Assam

This map highlights the location of the recent Rajdhani Express incident in Assam, where seven elephants were killed, and shows key elephant corridors and high-conflict railway sections in the region. It underscores the geographical vulnerability of these areas to human-wildlife conflict.

Loading interactive map...

📍Balipara-Belsiri Section, Assam📍Dooars Region, West Bengal/Assam Border📍Goalpara District, Assam

Key Statistics: Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in India (2024-2025 Estimates)

This dashboard provides critical statistics related to Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) in India, offering a quantitative overview of the scale and impact of this persistent environmental challenge, with data updated to 2025 estimates.

Elephant Deaths by Train (Annual Avg.)
18-22Stable (with fluctuations)

Despite speed restrictions and warning signs, train collisions remain a significant cause of elephant mortality, particularly in identified corridors. This highlights the need for structural solutions like underpasses.

Human Deaths due to HEC (Annual Avg.)
550-600Slight increase

HEC has severe socio-economic impacts on local communities, leading to crop damage, property loss, and human fatalities. This often fuels retaliatory actions against wildlife.

Identified Elephant Corridors (India)
101Increased identification efforts

These corridors are vital for maintaining connectivity between fragmented elephant habitats, ensuring genetic exchange and long-term population viability. Securing them is a priority under Project Elephant.

Estimated Wild Elephant Population (India)
~30,000Stable to slight increase

India is home to over 60% of the Asian elephant population, making its conservation efforts globally significant. This large population, coupled with habitat loss, exacerbates HEC.

और जानकारी

पृष्ठभूमि

Human-wildlife conflict, particularly involving elephants, has been a long-standing issue in India, exacerbated by habitat fragmentation, encroachment, and linear infrastructure development. Elephant corridors, vital for their movement, are often intersected by railways and highways, leading to frequent accidents. Project Elephant, launched in 1992, aims to protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors.

नवीनतम घटनाक्रम

The recent incident in Assam, where a train mowed down seven elephants and injured railway workers, highlights the ongoing challenges despite existing mitigation efforts. It underscores the need for more robust and integrated strategies to prevent such tragedies and ensure the co-existence of humans and wildlife.

बहुविकल्पीय प्रश्न (MCQ)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the conservation of Indian Elephants: 1. The Indian Elephant is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 2. Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme launched to protect elephants, their habitat, and corridors. 3. The IUCN Red List categorizes the Indian Elephant as 'Endangered'. 4. Assam is home to several significant elephant reserves, including the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve. Which of the statements given above are correct?

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: D

Statement 1: Indian Elephants are indeed listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, granting them the highest level of protection. Statement 2: Project Elephant, launched in 1992, is a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at protecting elephants, their habitat, and corridors, and addressing human-elephant conflict. Statement 3: The IUCN Red List classifies the Asian Elephant (of which the Indian Elephant is a subspecies) as 'Endangered'. Statement 4: Assam is crucial for elephant conservation and hosts several important elephant reserves, including the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve, which is vital for connectivity.

2. In the context of mitigating human-elephant conflict along railway lines in India, which of the following strategies is/are most effective and sustainable? 1. Imposing blanket speed restrictions for trains across all forest divisions. 2. Construction of elephant underpasses and overpasses at identified critical corridors. 3. Implementing AI-based early warning systems using thermal cameras and sensors. 4. Relocating human settlements from elephant corridors to reduce encroachment. Select the correct answer using the code given below:

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: B

Statement 1: While speed restrictions are important, blanket restrictions across all forest divisions might not be practical or efficient. Targeted speed restrictions in identified vulnerable areas are more effective. So, 'blanket' makes it less effective/sustainable. Statement 2: Construction of well-designed elephant underpasses and overpasses is a highly effective and sustainable long-term solution to ensure safe passage for elephants across linear infrastructure. Statement 3: AI-based early warning systems using thermal cameras and sensors can provide real-time alerts to railway authorities, allowing for timely intervention and prevention of accidents. This is a modern and effective technological solution. Statement 4: Relocating human settlements is a complex and often socio-politically challenging task, not always feasible or sustainable on a large scale. While reducing encroachment is vital, forced relocation is not typically considered a 'most effective and sustainable strategy' in the same vein as infrastructure or technology solutions for direct conflict mitigation along railway lines.

3. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the legal and policy framework for wildlife conservation in India? A) The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for the establishment of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. B) The Forest Rights Act, 2006, recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities but does not explicitly mention community conservation areas. C) The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body chaired by the Prime Minister of India. D) The Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), to which India is a party, aims to conserve migratory species and their habitats globally.

उत्तर देखें

सही उत्तर: B

A) This statement is correct. The WPA, 1972, is the primary legal framework for protected areas in India. B) This statement is NOT correct. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA), explicitly provides for the recognition of Community Forest Rights (CFRs) and also includes provisions for 'Community Forest Resource' management, which can encompass community conservation areas. It empowers Gram Sabhas to protect, regenerate, conserve, and manage any community forest resource which they have been traditionally protecting and conserving. C) This statement is correct. The NBWL is indeed a statutory body constituted under the WPA, 1972, and is chaired by the Prime Minister. D) This statement is correct. India is a party to CMS (also known as the Bonn Convention) and has hosted its COP13 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 2020. The convention focuses on conserving migratory species and their habitats.

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