Alert loco pilot saves pride of 10 lions from fatal train collision

Rajkot: In the quiet early hours near the Gir forest, a routine passenger train journey briefly turned into a moment that could have ended in disaster. Instead, it became another example of how alertness and restraint can save lives—both human and wild.On Monday, a Veraval–Junagadh passenger train was passing through the Sasan Gir–Kansiyanesh section when its loco pilot, Ramavatar Meena, noticed something unusual ahead. In the dim light, a pride of 10 lions had wandered onto the railway track.
There was no time to hesitate. Meena, assisted by his co-pilot, Sonu Sharma, immediately applied the emergency brakes. The train screeched to a halt just in time, avoiding what could have been a fatal collision in the lion corridor.The incident took place in an area known for frequent movement of Asiatic lions from the nearby Gir forest. As the train stood still, the loco pilot alerted the train manager, Sanjay Dixit. A forest department tracker, J.G. Parmar, who happened to be travelling on the train, quickly stepped in.The tracker guided the lions away from the track and back to safety. Only after the area was cleared and conditions returned to normal did railway officials allow the train to proceed, moving cautiously through the stretch.Senior railway officials later praised the crew's presence of mind. "This is exactly why strict speed limits and constant vigilance are enforced in wildlife zones," an official said.The rescue was not an isolated incident. According to the Bhavnagar Railway Division, coordinated efforts between railway staff and the forest department saved 159 lions during the financial year 2024–25. In the current year alone, 101 lions have already been protected from potential train accidents.