Chakulia (East Singhbhum), Rakesh Singh: East Singhbhum An elephant died on Thursday near Machadiha under Chakulia forest area of the district. This is the second death of a female elephant in Chakulia within 24 hours. The forest department is considering it as death due to electrocution and is investigating. However, the cause of death will be revealed only after the post mortem report comes. The post-mortem of the dead elephant was done jointly by Dr. Rajesh Kumar Singh and Dr. Manoj Kumar Mahanta. After the post-mortem, the team of doctors has preserved many organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys of the elephant, which will be sent to the Indian Veterinary Institute Bareilly for forensic and viscera examination. Let us tell you that on Wednesday morning, the dead body of a female elephant was recovered from Jwalbhanga Maredih hamlet of Badamara Panchayat located in Chakulia. After receiving the information, DFO Mamta Priyadarshini, Ranger Digvijay Singh, Ghatshila Ranger Vimad Kumar, Jamua Panchayat head Phulmani Murmu etc. reached the spot. Tried to pay homage to the dead elephant and prayed for the peace of her soul. After this the elephant was buried at the same place. Departmental officials planted Peepal sapling at this place.
The elephant was standing in Machadiha in an ill condition since morning.
Information was received that a wild elephant was standing peacefully in Machadiha since Thursday morning. As soon as information was received about the elephant’s ill health, the Forest Department made arrangements for drinking water and food for her. Since morning the team of forest guards was busy monitoring the female elephant. At around 12:00 noon on Thursday, the elephant came from the airstrip to the main road leading to Jamua. During this time a large crowd of people had gathered to see the elephant. The bike of former Jamua Panchayat head Prabhas Hansda was parked on the side of the road. The elephant pushed the bike with her trunk and made it fall. Then she moved ahead. The elephant died as soon as she crossed the trench dug by the forest department.
Death of female elephants is surrounded by message
The death of two female elephants in Chakulia in two days has shocked the forest department. Forest Department officials now seem to be in a mood to take action against the Electricity Department. Last Monday, a herd of 15 wild elephants had reached near Kamarigora pond in Chakulia. A short distance away, at the other end of the pond-like pit of dirty water coming out of a local rice mill, are paddy fields. Coming out of the herd, wild elephants in number of 5-6 climbed the embankment on the bank of the pond. An 11000 volt wire passed at a height of just 5 feet from the bund. As soon as they climbed the ridge, the wild elephants got hit by the electric wire.
Forest department engaged in monitoring wild elephants
Till now the forest department was rest assured that only one female elephant had died due to coming in contact with the electric wire. The death of the second elephant within 24 hours raised question marks. Some marks are visible on the elephant’s head. Many kinds of apprehensions are being raised due to this. At present the forest department is busy monitoring wild elephants. However, before death, the female elephant was seen passing loose stools.