Pawan Kalyan Orders Wildlife Safety Measures After Bear Cubs Die in Train Collision

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan has expressed grief over the death of two bear cubs after a train hit them in Anantapur district. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday near Kalyam village in D. Hirehal mandal. Following the accident, he reviewed the matter with forest department officials and directed them to strengthen wildlife safety measures along railway routes passing through forest areas.

During the review, Pawan Kalyan sought details of the incident, which took place within the Rayadurgam beat and section of the Kalyandurgam forest range. He recalled that a leopard had also died after being struck by a train on the same route in the past. Expressing concern over repeated wildlife fatalities, he stressed that the forest and railway departments must work together to prevent such incidents.

The Deputy Chief Minister instructed forest officials to convene a coordination meeting with senior railway authorities and identify vulnerable stretches where animals are at risk of being hit by trains. He emphasised the need for greater vigilance when trains pass through areas frequented by wild animals. Loco pilots should remain alert, regulate train speeds wherever necessary and sound horns at appropriate intervals to reduce the risk of collisions.

He also called for special awareness programmes for loco pilots on wildlife movement, conservation and accident prevention. Forest officials were asked to identify locations frequently used by animals to cross railway tracks and implement suitable protective measures. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests was directed to bring the issue to the attention of the concerned railway general manager.

Separately, Pawan Kalyan reviewed the recurring deaths of elephants caused by electrocution and called for a coordinated approach to address the problem. He directed officials in districts reporting frequent incidents to organise meetings involving district collectors and representatives from the agriculture, horticulture, electricity, panchayat raj and rural development departments.

Stressing the need for a lasting solution to elephant electrocutions, he ordered comprehensive investigations into every incident and corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Forest officials were asked to coordinate with the electricity department to ensure that power lines in wildlife movement areas are maintained at appropriate heights.

He further directed officials to educate farmers about the dangers of electric fencing around fields and encourage safer crop-protection methods. The measures aim to strengthen interdepartmental coordination and prevent avoidable wildlife deaths across Andhra Pradesh.