New Delhi: Gujarat is the home of lions. However, it has become unsafe in its own house, of late. Since the last year, their deaths on railway track have come to light. Now, a special team has been constituted in Amreli for the security of lions.
There have been incidents of lions dying on the track for the last several years. The highest number of lions in Saurashtra is in Amreli district. However, the sad thing is that the number of lions killed by trains on the tracks is also very high here. Now, special efforts are being made by the Forest Department to protect the lions.
In Amreli’s “red zone” area for lions, right around the railway track, lions are expanding their empire. Now “night patrolling” by forest personnel has been increased on the railway tracks. The Forest Department staff keep an eye on the lions and the tracks throughout the night. These trackers performing duty around the tracks are known as “Railway Sevaks” in the Forest Department.
How the safety system works?
For the safety of the lions, help is also being taken from the watch tower to monitor the situation. Officers often patrol the tracks throughout the night. Modern technology is also being used to protect the lions.
On Rajula Pipavav Port railway track spanning 48 km, about 40 sensor solar lights have been installed around the railway track for the safety of lions. As soon as the lion passes under the sensor solar light, a dim light turns on.
As a lion passes through the path, the light blinks and the trackers on duty are alerted. The information is immediately passed on to other personnel. If a train is approaching, then immediately a red signal is given to stop the train. This is done so that the pilot of the train can sense a moment of emergency and applies the brakes. To avoid the problem of emergency braking, a speed limit of 40 has been set here. And then, the lion goes off track.
Passenger trains do not come on the railway track. But, a total of more than 15 goods trains move on this stretch day and night. Most of them come at night. The forest department team has saved lions and humans while in action.
In August alone, 46 lions were safely removed from the track. Incidents of lions crossing tracks and rescue operations are being recorded daily. Surprise checking is also being carried out by higher authorities in the track area.
Adhering to court order
After a lion died on a railway track in Gir area, the state government decided the SOP following a high court verdict in July. A 10-member committee has been set up as per the order of the Gujarat High Court, five members are from forest department and five are senior railway officials. The speed of a train passing through a forest area has been determined.
The speed of Rajula–Pipavav, Cassia Ness–Sasan Gir, and Junagadh–Bilkha trains have been permanently reduced. People pilots of all trains are being given special training. Special Railway Sevaks have been appointed in which 71 people are being trained.