Suryap

Angul: A few days after the death of seven elephants due to electrocution in Dhenkanal, two tuskers were killed today after coming in contact with live electricity wire in Handapa forest range of Angul district and Deuli forest range of Mayurbhanj.

Sources said the pachyderm, who was killed in Handapa, is believed to be eight to ten years.

Senior officials and staff of the Forest department reached the spot to probe the elephant death and it is suspected that the jumbo died after coming in contact a wire allegedly laid for poaching.

Similarly, another tusker electrocuted to death in Deuli forest range of Mayurbhanj after coming in contact with 11 kV wire later in the day.

On October 22, seven elephants had died due to electrocution under Dhenkanal Sadar forest range. Similarly, on September 5, two elephants had died after being electrocuted in Jajpur district.

It is pertinent to mention that Union Minister for Women & Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, has urged Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to take urgent measures to stop elephant deaths in Odisha.

In a letter to the CM, Gandhi wrote “The recent electrocution of seven tuskers in Dhenkanal, which is the highest such death toll in a single incident, has caused furore throughout the nation about the reprehensible state of elephant protection in Odisha.”

“It is tragic to note that a dozen magnificent pachyderms are dying every year due to mismanagement and lack of coordination between government agencies,” Maneka added.

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