Elephants and the railways

I read with anguish yet another report of elephants being killed by trains ("Seven Elephants killed by Goods Train", http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11396729, 23 Sept 2010).

The Elephant is India's National Heritage Animal. In Indian culture (as also other South/South East Asian culture such as Thai or Sri Lankan), elephants have traditionally had a significant--even sacred--position. One of India's most enduring and endearing icon, Ganesha, is nothing but a baby elephant personified and deified. In Kerala--one of the well-known elephant habitats--most temple festivals are incomplete without elephants.

Elephants are being threatened gradually by many things: diminishing forest cover, degradation of habitats, poaching, and more recently, Indian Railways.

It is indeed a pity that Indian Railways, otherwise a very valuable asset to the country, should be callous in not protecting India's National Heritage Animal.

Perhaps an easier way to relate to the need to protect these gentle giants would be to consider that in protecting elephants, we are protecting Ganesha. If IR doesn't take immediate steps to do this, India's heritage may soon be without its National Heritage Animal.

PUU-SCT Line Closed

The 104-year Punalur - Shenkottah meter gauge section was closed to traffic on 19 September 2010. The closure is for gauge conversion. No target dates for reopening has been announced.

Let's hope that the conversion gets done fast, and this beautiful railway route reopens.

See the story from The Hindu (Monday, 20 Sep 2010)

Edit: Although the Southern Railway had indicated that trains on PUU-SCT would stop on 19 Sep 2010, they extended it by one more day for the general public to have one more chance to travel. According to reports, the final trip on PUU-SCT-PUU had a huge crowd, perched on everywhere from the carriage roofs to the engine!