Artificial Intelligence-based Intrusion Detection System (IDS) saved the lives of a herd of around 60 wild elephants last week. The jumbos were crossing a railway track at night when the two loco pilots of a passenger train, which was going from Guwahati towards Lumding, applied the emergency brake after being alerted by IDS that has been in operation in that section. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) said IDS has been successful in saving the lives of elephants from train hits. “IDS is an eco-sustainable solution that has sensors to protect elephants and improve mobility in train operations,” NFR said.
Call for safety of winged visitors
Ahead of the arrival of migratory birds, biodiversity conservation organisation Aaranyak has called for concerted efforts to look after the safety of the winged visitors which render tremendous value to Assam’s biodiversity. The birds flock to the state’s numerous forest areas and wetlands in winter. From next month onwards, Aaranyak will organise a series of birdwatching events and bird counts at various places of the state. “Migratory birds, which visit different areas, are our valued guests and we all should safeguard them,” said Aaranyak’s secretary general Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar.
Bypoll: Wife, son of MPs among candidates
There is an imprint of dynastic politics as Assam goes to by-election to five seats on November 13. BJP ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), which is contesting in Bongaigaon seat, fielded Diptimoyee Choudhury, wife of Barpeta MP Phani Bhushan Choudhury. Similarly, the Congress fielded Tanzil Hussain, son of Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain, in the Samaguri seat. Protesting Diptimoyee’s candidacy, 36 local AGP leaders quit the party. They were upset that the party did not field someone from outside the Choudhury family. The AGP trashed the charge, stating that Diptimoyee got the ticket as an active member of party, not as the wife of Choudhury.
Prasanta Mazumdar
Our correspondent in Guwahati
prasantamazumdar@newindianexpress.com