In 2012, 54 elephants and six tigers died due to rail, road accidents or electrocution, the Union environment minister said.

New Delhi: The environment ministry today said that 28 elephants and three tigers died this year due to accidents and electrocution in states across the country.

Environment and Forests Minister Jayanthi Natarajan told Lok Sabha that as on 3 December this year, deaths of 28 elephants, three tigers and a rhinoceros were reported by states.

In 2012, 54 elephants and six tigers died due to rail, road accidents or electrocution, the minister said. No lion death due to accident or electrocution has been reported this year. The house was informed that in 2012-13, one lion was killed.

Natarajan said that her ministry in consultation with the railway ministry has issued a general advisory to all the railway zones suggesting measures to prevent collision of trains with wild animals.

"A permanent coordination team has been constituted jointly by both the ministries to share information and monitor the implementation of the advisory on a quarterly basis," Natarajan said.

She maintained that the railway ministry has also been requested to regulate the speed of the trains in vulnerable sections apart from designating nodal officers in these sections to facilitate quick sharing of information.

Natarajan said that the ministry has also been releasing financial assistance to the state governments under various centrally sponsored schemes like Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, Project Tiger, Project Elephant.

Under the schemes, construction of RCC watch towers, provisions of heavy duty solar lights, high beam search lights, engagement of personnel to man watch towers, has been done, the house was informed.

PTI