Elephant falls into well while searching for food in Odisha, rescued after long operation

In a dramatic rescue operation, an elephant that fell into an abandoned well while trying to eat jackfruit, was successfully rescued after hours of effort in Odisha’s Sundargarh district. The incident occurred in the Banki Range of the Rourkela Forest Division, specifically in Rani Berna village under the Banki Section.

According to forest officials, the elephant had ventured into the village in search of food, particularly attracted by the smell of ripe jackfruit. While roaming around the area, it accidentally fell into an old, abandoned well, causing panic among the villagers. The distressed locals quickly informed the Forest Department.

Upon receiving the alert, a team from the Forest Department rushed to the spot and initiated the rescue process. With the help of a JCB machine, they began carefully digging around the well to create a passage for the elephant. The operation took several hours and required coordinated efforts from officials, forest staff, and local volunteers.

Despite the challenges, the team managed to successfully lift the elephant out of the well. After being rescued, the elephant appeared unharmed and soon made its way back into the forest, much to the relief of both officials and villagers.

Forest officials have urged villagers to report such abandoned wells and take precautions to prevent similar incidents in the future, especially in regions frequented by elephants. The incident once again highlights the ongoing challenges of human-elephant interactions in forest fringe areas across Odisha.