A 24-hour SMS service has been launched by the Department of Railways in a bid to curtail the number of elephant deaths due to train collisions.
Addressing a press briefing, General Manager of Railways (GMR) M.J. Dilantha Fernando said the service would provide information of elephants roaming around railway lines.
He further said measures would be taken to upgrade railway engines with powerful headlights in order to detect movements of elephants while adding that measures had already been taken to fill railway sleepers with metal in order to facilitate an easy crossing for elephants.
Accordingly, the general public will be able to notify the Wildlife Department on elephant herds that are spotted near railway crossings, via an SMS on 070-4445454 .
The Wildlife Department will then take measures to notify the Railways Department and the relevant authorities for further action.
Read this week’s Sunday Times for your interesting articles including the ’’5th Column’’.
Customs have detected 228 mobile phones and tabs valued at over Rs 30 million left behind in the duty free shopping complex at the Banaranaike International Airport today, Customs officials said.
Leave Comments