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AI camera alerts authorities to halt train near Odisha elephant herd, averting major accident; video viral

The clip shows two adult elephants and a calf walking towards the railway tracks in Rourkela forest division of Sundargarh district.

The AI camera captured the elephants walking towards the railway line (Image source: @sudantananda3/X)

From healthcare to education and transportation, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming many industries. Recently, an AI camera averted a major rail accident that would have killed or gravely injured three elephants that were approaching the tracks in Rourkela forest division of Sundargarh district in Odisha.

According to a post by Susanta Nanda, a retired Indian Forest Service officer, the AI camera captured the elephants walking towards the railway line and alerted the Forest Department control room, following which the train was halted. The viral video shows two adult elephants and a calf.

“AI camera captures & zooms into the elephants approaching the railway line, sending alerts to the control room for stopping the train. We had solutions. Happy to see that the ones implemented are now giving results. These 4 cameras along the track was part of mitigation measures,” Nanda wrote on X.

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“Funded by RSP out of its site specific wildlife conservation plan, it was implemented on a pilot basis in Rourkela Forest Division. Keonjhar & Bonai Forest Divisions are in the pipeline to upscale this initiative. Win win situation for all,” he wrote in another thread.

Watch here:

AI camera captures & zooms into the elephants approaching the railway line, sending alerts to the control room for stopping the train.
We had solutions. Happy to see that the ones implemented are now giving results.These 4 cameras along the track was part of mitigation measures. pic.twitter.com/RBNe0hPOnl

— Susanta Nanda (@susantananda3) December 8, 2024

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The video quickly gained traction, amassing over 2,29,000 views and numerous reactions. “Feels so good to see, apt use of tech. May be in future we can use this tech for locating poacher as well.” Another user commented, “Wonderful. We need this useful tech to be expanded to a lot more places.”

“Glad to see technology used for a good cause and saving lives,” a third user reacted.

In May, the Tamil Nadu forest department installed at least 12 towers, each with an AI camera installed, along two rail tracks in Madukkarai to curb fatal rail accidents, BBC News reported.

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