| Railways responsible for tragic death of six elephants- Minister by riteshexpert on 31 December, 2012 - 09:00 PM | ||
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 riteshexpert | Railways responsible for tragic death of six elephants- Minister on 31 December, 2012 - 09:00 PM | |
Odisha government today held the Railways fully responsible for the death of six elephants in a train accident on the midnight of December 29 and 30 at Subalaya between Rambha and Huma stations in Khurda Road-Brahmapur section of East Coast Railway. Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Bijoyshree Routray told newspersons here that the Khalikote Forest Range Officer was asked to file a case against the driver U/S OR68/12/13 and inquire into the incident. The Minister said if the inquiry found any higher officer of the Railway guilty then action would be taken against them. The elephants died when the Chennai-bound Coromandal Express running at a high speed of 110 km per hour rammed in to herd of elephants while they were crossing the track. A bed roll attendant engaged by a contractor also died in the accident. Mr Routray said the Railway officials had violated the guidelines issued after a meeting held between the Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Railways at New Delhi on September 4, 2009 to prevent the death of elephants in train accidents. The Minister circulated the copies of the minutes of the meeting among the media persons here. The guidelines asked the railways to clear vegetative growth at a stretch of 30 metres on both sides of the track specially in cives and bends for better visibility. MORE UNI BD DP BM 1654 NNNN | ||