Elephant calf dies after being hit by train, herd guards carcass in Sundargarh; another jumbo death in Sambalpur

In a heart-wrenching incident, a herd elephant was spotted guarding the body of a calf which died after being hit by a train under Barsuan range at Koida in Sundargarh on Sunday morning.

According to sources, the herd comprising six elephants and a calf was crossing the railway track when the mishap took place.

The train hit the calf causing its death on the spot. After the mishap, the elephant herd was seen at the accident site guarding the body of the calf, sources added.

In another incident, a female jumbo died after coming in contact with a high-tension wire at Charadapasi village under Nakatideula range of Rairakhol division in Sambalpur district on Sunday.

The elephant, aged about 10 years, is suspected to have died after it came in contact with an 11 KV live wire.

On being informed about the incident, Forest Department officials rushed to the spot and launched an investigation into the matter.

“The elephant’s trunk might have come in contact with the high-tension wire. We have launched an investigation into matter and under what circumstances it died will be known after the completion of the probe,” said Arabinda Mohanty, Divisional Forest Officer, Rairakhol.