In Odisha, Artificial Intelligence (AI) helped prevent a potential disaster when 28 elephants, including calves, were spotted on the railway track between Bandhamunda and Barsuan in Rourkela. An AI-based thermal camera detected the elephants and quickly alerted the authorities.

Once the cameras identified the elephants' presence, they sent real-time location data to the forest department and railway control rooms. According to TOI reports, railway authorities acted quickly, delaying the departure of a goods train by 30 minutes. This action ensured the elephants' safety, giving them time to cross the track without harm.

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Forest officials on Saturday, around 7 pm confirmed that an AI camera had spotted the herd and taken an image. Jasobant Sethi, the divisional forest officer of Rourkela, said, "Within moments of receiving the image and location, we decided to delay the approaching train by 30 minutes at the Lathikata station.We worked closely with the railway authorities to ensure that elephants could safely cross the track before the train reached the area."

The movement of elephants is typically observed between the Sana Parbat reserve forest and Tainsar in the Panposh range of the Rourkela forest division. Sethi added, "The use of 360-degree cameras has been crucial in detecting when elephants safely cross the railway tracks, ensuring that trains can pass through without any issues."

In the past decade, until 2023, at least 36 elephants have died in train accidents. This concerning number shows the danger that elephants face when crossing railway tracks, marking the need for better safety measures and technology to protect them from such incidents.