Sambalpur: An elephant calf was rescued in a joint operation by the forest and the fire department after it reportedly fell into a dilapidated well at Badakasibahal in Badabahal forest range in Sambalpur district on Saturday.
The baby elephant was part of a herd that strayed into the locality last night. While moving towards a paddy field, it accidentally fell into the abandoned well and could not come out.
On being informed, teams from Rairakhol forest and fire department rushed to the spot and rescued the elephant. Later, the pachyderm was released into forest.
“The jumbos from Athmallik had strayed into the area when the baby elephant fell into a 15 feet dip well. We engaged two earthmovers and a tractor and rescued the elephant,” stated Rairakhol Divisional Forest Officer Pradipta Kumar Sahu.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)