(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Sri Lanka Railway Department has launched a SMS alert service from Monday (10) as the first phase of the project on preventing elephant deaths by collision with trains.
The 24-hour SMS alert service would send out information on locations where elephants are roaming near railway lines.
The information on elephant movements will be gathered from the Department of Wildlife, the general public and the officers of railway service. Anyone can provide the information on elephant habitations by phone to the 070 444 54 54.
This information will be notified to the station masters of railway stations in the relevant areas, engine drivers and guards of the trains plying through the areas by a special SMS.
The SMS message will include the number of elephants, zone and the time they were sighted, and the route.
With the information provided, the engine drivers are expected to exercise caution when plying through the notified zones to prevent collisions with the elephants.
