Three Elephants Electrocuted In Sambalpur

BHUBANESWAR: Three elephants, including a calf, were electrocuted to death after coming in contact with a live electric wire in Sambalpur district on Monday.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rairakhol division, Aurobinda Mohanty said that two female adult elephants and a calf died in the incident. He said the elephants came in contact with a live power line laid by poachers to trap wild boars to protect crops. A special team of forest officials rushed to the spot for an inquiry.

A team of veterinarians would conduct the post-mortem, he added. Terming the incident unfortunate, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Wildlife, Susant Nanda said, "There was negligence on the part of the patrolling team and field officials of the area." He said the regional chief conservator of forests, Sambalpur, has been asked to conduct a thorough probe.