Environment Ministry workshop prioritises 77 railway stretches to curb elephant deaths on tracks
On 10–11 March 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun, a national workshop by the Environment Ministry's Project Elephant Division prioritised 77 railway stretches across 14 states and recommended 705 mitigation structures to prevent elephant–train collisions.
Summary
On 10–11 March 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the Project Elephant Division of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change held a national workshop on 'Policy Implementation for Minimizing Elephant Mortalities on Railway Tracks' with the Railway Ministry, state forest departments and scientists. Joint surveys assessed 127 railway stretches covering 3,452.4 km, made up of 110 stretches in elephant ranges and 17 in two tiger-range states; 77 stretches spanning 1,965.2 km in 14 states were prioritised, and 705 mitigation structures were recommended. India holds more than 60% of the world's Asian elephants, and deaths on tracks are concentrated in states such as Assam, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Key facts
- Date / place
- 10–11 March 2026, WII, Dehradun
- Organiser
- Project Elephant Division, MoEFCC, with WII
- Assessed
- 127 stretches, 3,452.4 km (110 elephant-range + 17 tiger-range)
- Prioritised
- 77 stretches, 1,965.2 km, 14 states
- Recommended
- 705 mitigation structures
- Context
- India has over 60% of the global Asian elephant population
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Where was the March 2026 national workshop on minimising elephant deaths on railway tracks held?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
The workshop was held on 10–11 March 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun.
How many railway stretches were prioritised for mitigation measures against elephant–train collisions, as reported in March 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 77
Out of 127 stretches assessed (3,452.4 km), 77 stretches spanning 1,965.2 km in 14 states were prioritised, with 705 mitigation structures recommended.
According to the Environment Ministry, roughly what share of the global Asian elephant population lives in India?
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Correct answer: A — More than 60%
The Ministry said India harbours more than 60% of the global Asian elephant population.