Dhenkanal, Nov. 29: Dhenkanal divisional forest authorities have imposed speed restriction on all trains passing through Sadasibpur-Hindol Road section on the Dhenkanal-Sambalpur route to ensure safe passage for elephants.

The restriction has been effective from dusk to dawn for the past one month.

The loco pilots have been asked to curtail the speed by 30 to 50kmph on this route from evening to morning, said divisional forest officer Pradip Kumar Sahu.

The increased number of elephant deaths by train collision between Khalikote and Berhampur since the past two years has made the authorities take this step.

“During this season, a herd, consisting of 20 to 25 elephants, moves from Babandha and crosses the national highway and the rail track to come to the Brahmani river at Kamakhyanagar. They usually stay there for the night and cross the rail track twice a day. Hence, they are prone to accidents,” said Sahu.

“For the past one month, I have to send text messages to the control room at Khurda Road railway division to alert them about over-speeding trains. Besides, our staff members at Gadasila also keep contact with the station masters on this route,” he said.

He said there had not been any case of elephant death on rail tracks in the district in the past one year.

Sahu hopes that with this measure, there could be safe passage for the wild animals prone to train accidents.

There are around 300 elephants in the district. Some of them have migrated from the Keonjhar and Satkosia regions.