Jumbo's death: Week's deadline to build speed-breakers

Mysuru: While there is no move as yet to ban night traffic on the Hunsur Gonikoppa state highway passing through the Nagarahole National park where a captive elephant was killed in  a road accident in the early hours of Monday, officials of the wildlife sanctuary have given the PWD a week to build speed-breakers every 50 metres on the road and install signages along it for the safety of the animals. 

Accusing the PWD of ignoring its letter of June 18, 2015 after an Indian Gaur was run down in its ranges , the park officials say had it built  the speed-breakers and signages requested for then, the lives of many other animals could have been saved.

The forest officials claim they had informed the PWD  of vehicles speeding on the Hunsur-Gonikoppa highway passing the park and made a strong case for the speed-breakers. While the PWD slept on the proposal, a tusker, Rowdy Ranga, once notorious for raiding crops in the region and later captured by the forest department, was killed on the Hunsur-Gonikoppa road by a private bus on October 8.  Losing no time the park officials have once again approached the PWD with their request.  “We have asked the PWD officials to act at least now keeping in  mind the safety of the wild animals,” says a forest officer.

Park director  Hanumanthappa also assures that CCTV cameras will be installed  at the entry and exits points of the state highway to keep a check on speeding vehicles.