“While different accidents claimed the lives of as many as 162 pachyderms, electrocution led to the death of another 54 elephants. It was followed by train hits which claimed the lives of 14 elephants. As many as 11 jumbos were killed due to poaching. Similarly, 90 elephants lost their lives due to other reasons,” said Arukha while replying to a question raised by Jatni MLA Suresh Routray.
As per Forest officials, most of the elephant deaths occurring in the State are accidental in nature, including electrocution.
“Expansion of human settlements and agricultural fields has resulted in widespread loss of elephant habitats. As their habitats shrink, elephants are progressively forced into closer contact with people, resulting in more frequent and severe conflict over space and resources with consequences ranging from crop raiding to reciprocal loss of lives,” said former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Bijay Ketan Patnaik.
“Ruining of elephants’ corridors in the State due to various construction activities are also one of the reasons for growing human-elephant conflicts. Some people are also deliberately electrocuting elephants to save their agricultural farms and lives from the elephants,” said Patnaik.
“It is saddening to note that several wild elephants are losing their lives due to callous and negligent behaviour of humans. Awareness should be created among the people to save the lives of these wild animals that play a significant role in maintaining the ecological balance,” he said.
According to reports, the incident occurred at around 10.30 pm when a herd of ten elephants was crossing the railway tracks and the goods train coming from Joda rammed into the pachyderm. However, nine other jumbos had a narrow escape in the incident.
After getting information, Forest department officials including Ranger and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and senior officials of Railways rushed to the spot.
Meanwhile, the Forest department booked the train driver for dereliction in duty as the concerned department had earlier cautioned the Railways about the movement of elephants in the area.
“The incident took place at around 9.55 pm yesterday and we had informed the railway control room at Khurda about the movement of elephants in the area at around 6.20 pm. Within 25 minutes, the caution orders were put into force and the loco pilot was intimated about the elephant movement,” informed Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Santosh Kumar Joshi.
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“We have detained the loco pilot of the train and recorded his statement. Further investigation is underway,” he added.
Sources said in past few days pachyderms have been straying into Dimba, Naranpur, Jamunalia Badaposi, Ramachandrapur and Basantpur under Sadar range area of the district in search of food.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, the CM further ordered the concerned authorities to take appropriate action in case of any criminal negligence.
"As this is a sensitive issue, SP will personally visit the spot and will initiate a detailed probe. All aspects including lapses, negligence of the officials and under which circumstances such an incident happened will be probed," said Crime Branch ADG Santosh Upadhyay.
Upadhyay further informed, a four-member team headed by a DSP has already left for the spot.
Opposition parties on the other hand blamed callous attitude of Odisha government for such tragic incident.
In a tweet, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan launched a scathing attack on the Odisha government for the lapses and lack of coordination between forest and electricity department which is resulting in the loss of forests and wildlife in the State.
Refuting such allegations, the ruling BJD advised the Union minister to concentrate at the centre.
"The state government is performing its duties properly and stringent action will be taken against the officials those who will be found guilty after a detailed probe," said BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb.
On the other hand, taking stern action against the officials responsible for the mishap, the Forest & Environment, and the Energy department dismissed one official and suspended six others for dereliction of duty.
Three officials of the Forest & Environment Department including Dhenkanal Range officer Prasanna Kumar Biswal, Forester of Meramundali section Prabhakar Rana and forest guard of Meramundali section Girish Chandra Dehury have been suspended, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) sources said.
Similarly, the electricity department sacked one officer and suspended three others in connection with the incident.
Sanjay Kumar Mohanty, DEE (Contract)/JM (Ele), Electrical Section, Meramundali has been terminated from his post and replaced by Pradeep Kumar Pradhan, JM (Ele), Electrical section, Talcher.
Besides, Naresh Chandra Pattnaik, GM/(Ele)/Circle Manager, EC, Dhenkanal, Artatrana Nayak, SDO of Chainpal and Phiroj Panda, Lineman-B of Electrical Section, Meramundali have been suspended by the electricity department.
Earlier, the Forest department had blamed the electricity department for the sheer negligence that led to the tragic death of seven elephants.
In a press release, the PCCF alleged that the Dhenkanal DFO had written to the Central Electricity Supply Utility of Odisha (CESU) last year to rectify the sagging 11 KV lines in the region but no action was taken in this regard.
According to reports, a herd of 13 elephants had strayed into the region in search of food a few days ago. The jumbos were reportedly passing through a farmland near Kamalanga on Friday night when they came in contact with the high voltage live wire pulled at a height of 5 feet above the ground that was laid for the construction of railway tracks in the area.
The carcasses were reportedly found within a distance of about 200m in the sanctuary following which the forest department officials informed their higher-ups.
Later, the Regional Chief Conservator of Forest (RCCF) and Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF), Kuldiha reached the spot and sent the carcasses for post-mortem.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the elephants were suffering from Anthrax, said Laxman Kumar Pradhan, ACF, Kuldiha.
"We suspect that the elephants were suffering from Anthrax but the actual reason behind the death could be established only after receiving the post-mortem report," said Pradhan.
On spotting the elephants, the villagers alerted the local forest department officials. Later, a team of veterinary doctors was engaged in the treatment of the female elephant.
Though the jumbo had recovered, it reportedly fell down while trying to move back into the forest. Subsequently, efforts were again initiated for the treatment of the jumbo. However, the jumbo died this morning, said a villager.
While it is suspected that the elephant might have died after getting trapped in electricity wires laid by poachers to capture wild boars, Forest department officials said that the actual cause of death can be ascertained only after the post-mortem report.
As per reports, as many as 26 elephants have so far died this year after coming in contact with live electricity wires in several parts of the State.
Meanwhile, the rise in the number of incidents of man-animal conflict and movement of elephants in human settlement areas continues to trigger concerns.
A herd of around 50 elephants was spotted near Kathapal in Balasore district today with forest officials suspecting that they might have sneaked in from forests in neighbouring Jharkhand.
"Around 50 elephants were seen in our area today. Our crops are getting damaged by the jumbos but the government is unable to give us adequate compensation," said Guruba Singh, a local.
On the other hand, a youth was injured after being allegedly attacked by an elephant near a forest under Karanjia range in Mayurbhanj district.
In a written reply, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh said that 246 elephants had died between 2016-17 and 2018-19 due to accidental electrocution, disease, accidents involving trains and other vehicles, natural and other causes.
The Minister said that as per the 2017 elephant census, Odisha housed 1,976 jumbos, including Simlipal forest division's highest at 330, Dhenkanal (169), Satakosia (147) and Athagarh (115).
He said the state had taken steps for elephant protection. Elephant Reserves have been set up at Mayurbhanj, Mahanadi and Sambalpur to conserve their prime habitats, and the government has also launched various management interventions, he added.
Besides, the government is taking steps to restore 14 elephant corridors, plant saplings for the consumption of elephants and construction of water bodies in several habitats.
Besides, steps are being taken to avoid train accidents and electrocution.
(IANS)
As per reports, the mother bear and its cub were crossing the road in the early hours today when an unknown vehicle hit them killing the animals on the spot.
The mother bear and the cub's age was stated to be around 20 and 2 years, respectively.
Meanwhile, forest officials reached the spot on receiving information and sent the bodies for post-mortem. They have also initiated a probe.
On Monday, an elephant was killed after it was run over by Puri-Surat Express train near Bhabanipali between Hatibari and Maneswar Railway stations under Sambalpur division.
Following the accident, six wheels of the train engine got derailed. However, no passengers on-board or the railway crew members were hurt in the incident.
Later, Harishankar Upadhyay, the Odisha Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) wrote to Odisha government seeking disciplinary action against Sambalpur Sadar Range Officer for dereliction of duty.
Upadhyay cited that despite possessing a full-fledged squad to track the wild elephants straying into habitations and railway lines, the Range Officer had failed to conduct enough patrolling, resulting in the death of many elephants over the year.