The Jharkhand government plans to fence the 125 km railway track between Goelkira and Chakardharpur, headquarter of the Eastern Railway, in West Singhbhum district, to protect wild elephants from being run over by speeding trains.‘‘The fencing is required because the track lies in the forest that served as a thoroughfare for the pachyderm. At least seven elephants were crushed to death by trains on this track during the past two years,’’ Chief Wild Life Warden A.K. Malhotra said.As part of the Rs 60-lakh project, the forest department will also install flood lights on sharp curves and turns on sensitive tracks so that drivers can spot elephants from a distance and apply brakes.
