Bisra: An elephant calf died after falling into a pit in Mahipani village under Bisra forest range in Sundargarh district late Wednesday night.
Forest department’s investigation has revealed that the calf is about one year old.
Sources said a herd of 17 elephants strayed into Mahipani late Wednesday night. However, as the villagers shouted and tried to drive the herd away the pachyderms moved towards the railway tracks.
The elephants were crossing the tracks when a male calf fell into a pit which had been dug up by the railways for laying electric cables. The herd members tried to pull out the calf from the pit but failed, as it was filled with mud and slush.
The villagers also joined hands and tried to rescue the calf but the pachyderms prevented them from doing so. The calf struggled hard to come out and finally died.
The elephants were seen moving near the pit and trumpeting.
The forest department recovered the carcass and buried it after post-mortem. The villagers apprehend that they might face the wrath of the elephant herd after the calf’s death.
PNN
