A pilot project was launched last week to minimize animal
deaths, especially of elephants, caused by collisions with trains at night.
The Department of Railways, with support from the private
sector, has taken the initiative of installing cameras on locomotives to
minimize the deaths of animals crossing rail tracks at night. The first phase
of the installation of these cameras took place at the Colombo Fort Railway
Station last week under the patronage of Transport Minister Kumara Welgama. The
night vision cameras will detect the movements of elephants or other animals
within the range of one kilometre.
Minister Welgama said depending on the success of the pilot
project, the Department will install a camera network on trains running on the
Northern rail track. The number of elephants dying following collisions with
trains has been increasing over the past few months. Ten elephants were killed
by railway accidents last year. The accidents have also caused massive damage
to the locomotives, in some instances even derailing trains. Sri Lanka Railways
has identified the areas between Kekirawa and Punani on the Batticaloa line,
between Galoya and China Bay on the Trincomalee line and between Maho and
Galgamuwa on the Anuradhapura line as most vulnerable for elephant accidents.
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