AI-Powered Towers in Rourkela Forest Division Successfully Avert Train-Elephant Collisions
The Rourkela forest division in Odisha has achieved a remarkable milestone by preventing train-elephant collisions for over a year, thanks to the installation of four AI-enabled elephant protection towers. This innovative system, the first of its kind in the state, has proven highly effective in safeguarding both wildlife and railway operations.
Significant Reduction in Elephant Fatalities Through AI Alerts
According to divisional forest officer (Rourkela) Jashabanta Sethi, the AI system issued approximately 880 alerts on elephant movements near railway tracks between November 19, 2024, and December 31, 2025. These timely warnings prevented 46 potential collision incidents, protecting an estimated 270 elephants from harm.
This represents a dramatic improvement from the previous period. From November 26, 2013, to November 18, 2024, before the AI towers were operational, five elephants tragically died in train accidents within the division. The railway tracks under the south-eastern railway network pass through dense forests, fragmenting crucial elephant habitats and creating constant risks for herds using traditional migration corridors.
Challenging Terrain and Strategic Tower Placement
The high-traffic Howrah–Mumbai main line and the Hatia–Bondamunda–Barsuan branch line intersect at Bondamunda, making manual surveillance extremely difficult in this complex railway network. To address this challenge, the forest division operationalized four AI-based towers starting November 19, 2024.
These advanced towers are equipped with:
- Thermal imaging cameras for night vision capabilities
- High-sensitivity motion sensors
- Machine learning-based animal recognition technology
- Real-time alert transmission systems to a central command center
The towers have been strategically installed at four critical locations:
- Mahipani on the Howrah–Mumbai main line
- Sonakhan on the Howrah–Mumbai main line
- Dalakudar along the Bondamunda–Barsuan line
- Kucheita along the Bondamunda–Barsuan line
Notable Success Stories and Tower Performance
A particularly significant incident occurred at Kucheita on November 26, 2025, where a single AI alert enabled timely intervention that protected nearly 30 elephants from an approaching train. Kucheita tower recorded the highest performance among all installations, preventing 34 potential incidents and protecting approximately 233 elephants.
The other towers also demonstrated impressive results:
- Sonakhan reported six prevented incidents, protecting 22 elephants
- Mahipani prevented four incidents, safeguarding six elephants
- Dalakudar averted two incidents, thus protecting nine elephants
Coordinated Response System Between Forest Department and Railways
When the AI system detects elephant movement near railway tracks, it immediately sends alerts to the control room at the Bandamunda railway ARM office, which is managed by the forest department. This triggers a coordinated response with Indian Railways, ensuring either speed regulation or temporary halting of trains to prevent collisions.
"This achievement underscores the transformative potential of AI in protecting endangered wildlife while ensuring public safety," stated DFO Jashabanta Sethi. "It marks a decisive step toward sustainable coexistence between development and conservation."
Expansion of AI-Based Wildlife Protection Initiatives
Encouraged by the remarkable success in Rourkela, other forest divisions across Odisha have begun implementing similar AI-based monitoring systems in elephant-prone regions. This technological approach represents a significant advancement in wildlife conservation strategies, combining cutting-edge technology with traditional conservation efforts to create more effective protection mechanisms for India's endangered elephant population.
The Rourkela initiative serves as a model for how artificial intelligence can be leveraged to address complex environmental challenges, particularly in areas where human infrastructure intersects with wildlife habitats. The system's ability to provide real-time data and enable rapid response has transformed how forest departments manage human-wildlife conflict situations along railway corridors.
