Dhenkanal: A 35-year-old tusker died of electrocution near Giridhari Prasad village under Hindol range in this district Sunday night.
Sources said the pachyderm died after it came in contact with an overhead electric wire in a mango orchard near the village.
With this, the death toll due to electrocution has shot up to 13 in last five years in the division.
According to locals, a herd of elephants came to their village Sunday night. As the electric wires in the area are in low height, people apprehended danger to the herd due to sagging power lines. They alerted forest officials and power authorities but there was no response.
“We had repeatedly tried to contact local forest and power officials but there was no response. As soon as we came to know the arrival of the herd we feared some danger to them because of sagging wire. As nobody came to drive them out, a tusker became the causality.” said SK Pattnaik, a local.
After the incident the irate people gheraoed the local ranger and freed him after the intervention of senior forest officials.
However, the forest officials described the death as ‘accidental’. They said there was a repair of the electric wires some days ago and wires were not in low height. “The elephant died due to an accident not because of sagging lines in the areas,” they claimed.
The tusker uprooted a portion of the tree which came in contact with the electric wire on the above leading to its death, they added.
Regional chief conservator of forest of Angul circle Sudarshan Panda said the tusker was buried after post-mortem.
Ailing elephant spotted
Boinda: An elephant believed to be ailing since Sunday was found at Jaleipathar forest under Dhandadhepa range in Angul district Monday. The elephant is believed to more than 50-year-old. Local cattle grazers spotted the elephant lying in a helpless condition and alerted forest officials. Forest officials provided water to the animal. It failed to stand up due to its old age, officials said. Athmallik DFO KS Pradeep, ACF Rajendra Gochayat, Dhandedhepa ranger Rahas Sahu and others took stock of the elephant’s health condition. Veterinarians provided treatment to the elephant. “Necessary treatment is being provided to the elephant,” the ranger said. PNN
