Prompt action by Loco pilot saved lives of 10 lions resting on railway tracks in Gujarat

18 June 2024

Gujarat: The loco pilot of a goods train applied emergency brakes to save the lives of 10 lions that were resting on the tracks on Monday. According to a statement from Western Railway’s Bhavnagar division, the event happened while Mukesh Kumar Meena was operating the goods train from Pipavav Port station to a siding, which is a short track next to the main corridor. 

The vigilance of Mukesh Meena Kumar, a loco pilot of WR, saved 10 lions that were resting on the tracks.

He halted a goods train using the emergency brakes as soon he spotted the lions and waited till the lions moved away to resume journey!https://t.co/Nw4mLUPaDO

— Western Railway (@WesternRly) June 18, 2024

As soon as Meena saw ten lions sleeping on the tracks, he put the emergency brakes on and halted the train. He bided his time till the lions rose and left the tracks. After that, he boarded the train and travelled there. Officials commended the loco pilot for his excellent effort, according to the announcement.

“Continuous efforts are being made by Bhavnagar Division for the safety of wildlife, including lions. As instructed, the loco pilots on this route remain vigilant and ply trains as per the prescribed speed limit,” the WR release added.

Meena captured videos of lions walking along the railway line connecting Pipavav Port with north Gujarat before disappearing into the thicket. Several lions have died in recent years on this line, despite being far from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and officials also claim that lions visit the area regularly.

The Gujarat High Court has called on the state government and Railways to take concrete steps to protect the 674 Asiatic lions in Gujarat, as per the last census conducted in June 2020. The state forest department has additionally installed fences along the track to prevent trains from hitting the lions.