HT Correspondent
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JORHAT, Oct 15: In wake of three elephants being killed by a train on the night of October 9 near the Kharikatia Railway Station, under Mariani Range of Jorhat Forest division, the Forest department on Saturday, re-engaged 13 non-permanent workers to patrol the tracks at night.
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It may be mentioned here that the 13 workers who were recruited a few years ago to patrol the tracks in order to keep a watch on the herd of jumbos that come out from Holongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary mostly after sunset, were out of work since the Covid-19 pandemic struck as train services were suspended.
A forest official said that as per the government decision the 13 workers were asked to rejoin duty from Saturday and were given shoes and torch lights by the department and given necessary instructions to monitor the tracks on which all trains, to and fro upper Assam.
The patrolling of tracks enables the Forest department to get information early on the movement of jumbos when they cross several elephant corridors and the same is intimated to railway authorities so that the trains are alerted and train speeds reduced.
Meanwhile, a meeting between Jorhat district administration, Forest and police officials with senior railway officials from divisional railway managers office based at Tinsukia was held at Jorhat to discuss mitigation of train hits.
Jorhat deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman said that ways to strengthen coordination and cooperation among all sides were discussed.
The DC said that both sides suggested making lighting arrangements in elephant corridors, to cut down bushes near the tracks to enhance visibility to prevent animal hits.
The meeting was also attended by managers of tea estates located near the elephant corridors.
From Tinsukia division Tushar Kanti Maity, senior DME, Arun Kumar, senior DMC, Amar M Thakur, senior DOM and Vishal Dhala, DM, Mariani here represented the Railways at the meeting.
