In a bid to curb elephant deaths on railway tracks, the Odisha Railways Department has launched a special Kumki campaign featuring advanced technology and field testing.
Under the initiative, railway employees will be alerted before elephants approach the tracks, and loco pilots will receive direct messages enabling them to stop trains in time. To achieve this, the Indian Railways is installing an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) along vulnerable stretches.
Live Testing Underway
For pilot testing, the department has brought a trained Kumki elephant and its mahout from Chandaka forest.
The first phase of trials is being conducted near Ghantikhal railway line under the Athagarh Forest Division.
According to officials, testing parameters include:
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Elephant’s weight and walking speed
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Accuracy of IDS in detecting movement
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Response time for alert transmission to loco pilots
Data Collection and Next Steps
Biswal Chichi Lichi, Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF), Athagarh Division, said:
“After installing the IDS near Ghantikhal Station, we are conducting extensive tests. We have already collected data on wild animal movement and are now working with a Kumki elephant to fine-tune the system. Once testing is complete, the system will be rolled out fully.”
Goal: Safer Tracks for Wildlife
The key objective is to reduce the number of elephant deaths caused by speeding trains. Once the IDS detects an approaching elephant, loco pilots will be alerted in real time and can halt the train from a safe distance.
Forest officials and Railways plan to expand the IDS installation across elephant corridors if the trials prove successful.
