The death of a Madhyamik examinee in Jalpaiguri earlier this year in an elephant attack has prompted the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), which conducts the exam, to make adequate arrangements for the safety of students near elephant habitats of the state.

Ramanuj Ganguly, the president of WBBSE, who was here on Friday, said the administrations of districts with elephant populations have been asked to make transport arrangements for such students well in advance.

“Hundreds of students who live on the fringes of forests or need to move through forest areas to reach their examination centres will be provided with transport from their localities. When a student appearing for Madhyamik next year goes to his or her school to get the admit card, school authorities will inform the student in detail about transport, pick-up and drop points and other information,” said Ganguly.

In February this year, Arjun Das, a Madhyamik examinee from Maharajghat of Rajganj block in Jalpaiguri district, was on his way to the exam centre on his father's bike when a wild elephant came out of the Baikunthapur forest and attacked them. Arjun’s father managed to escape but the animal killed the boy on the spot.

After the incident, the administration and the state forest department hurriedly arranged transport for other examinees hailing from nearby areas.

“This time, we don’t want any confusion and the plan has to be made well ahead so that students do not face any inconvenience,” said Ganguly.

Foresters, sources said, will intensify patrolling in routes which examinees will use.

Ganguly also said that from now onwards there would be special serial numbers in question papers to identify leaks. “If anyone clicks a photo of the question paper to circulate it outside, we will be able to identify the exam centre and examinee (person),” he said.