Assam Forest department seizes loco engine for killing elephants on tracks

The Assam Forest Department has seized a railway engine under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in connection with the death of a female elephant and it's calf on September 27 at railway tracks between Patharkhula and Lamsakhang Railway Station.

Guwahati:Setting an example, the Assam Forest Department has 'seized' a locomotive engine for killing two elephants on railway tracks about three weeks ago.

Officials of the Assam Forest Department said that the railway engine (loco engine number- 12440 WDG4) has been seized from railway yard at New Guwahati. The engine had killed one female elephant and its calf on September 27 at railway tracks between Patharkhula and Lamsakhang Railway Station. The engine was seized for killing the two animals under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the officials said.

"The seized loco engine was later given back into the custody of Senior DME/Diesel/New Guwahati, Chandra Mohan Tiwari in view of the continuity of essential services to the public and others. In a ‘Zimmanama’ Tiwari also agreed to pay Rs 12 cr for any loss and damage of the seized property, forest officials said.

Assam's Chief Wildlife Warden, Mahendra Kumar Yadava said that the forest department had taken up the case of the killing of the two elephants on track vigorously under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Department instituted an enquiry under the Act.

"Accordingly, a team of forest officials proceeded to Bamunimaidan Loco Shed and seized the Diesel Loco Engine. Also earlier, already the Loco Pilot and the Asstt Loco Pilot have been suspended by the Railways in an internal enquiry of theirs," said Yadava.

Meanwhile, Assam's Environment And Forest Minister, Parimal Suklabaidya said that the Department shall not fail to take the toughest stand against the Railways. "The killing of elephants on the railway tracks must stop forthwith," said Suklabaidya.

It may be mentioned here that the death of elephants on railway tracks had been a regular phenomenon. Although the Assam Forest Department, as well as the railway authorities, had taken up several measures to stop the elephant deaths on tracks, the problem is far from being over.