Prevention of accidents involving Wild Elephants: Govt. to illuminate Railway track between Gal Oya and Hingurakgoda

By Yohan Basura  

The Government is to illuminate the Railway line segment between Gal Oya and Hingurakgoda using solar panels in order to prevent Elephants from being hit by speeding trains.   

Speaking to media following a meeting at the Kaudulla National Park to discuss  ways and means to minimize accidents involving Elephants, Deputy Minister of Housing T.B.Sarath said that it was also decided to clear about 20 feet of forest on either side of the Railway track in this area  to enable elephants to see approaching trains.   

Speaking to media following a meeting at the Kaudulla National Park to discuss  ways and means to minimize accidents involving Elephants, Deputy Minister of Housing T.B.Sarath said that it was also decided to clear about 20 feet of forest on either side of the Railway track in this area  to enable elephants to see approaching trains.   

He stated that it has been observed by the authorities that one prime reason for the accidents involving Elephants on Railway tracks was the delay in sighting the trains by the Elephants frequenting the Railway tracks.  

The discussion which was one of the series of actions taken by the authorities following the tragic death of five Elephants after they were mowed down by the Meenagaya Express train on February 20.  

The Deputy Minister also said that creating an Elephant corridor between Kaudulla and Minneriya for Elephants to cross the Railway track was also under discussion.