Elephant Undergoing Treatment After Swallowing Crude Bomb Dies Near Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: An elephant died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment inside Bharatpur forest on the outskirts of Odisha capital

The elephant had suffered severe wounds in the mouth and veterinarians were providing treatment in the forest.

The pachyderm had reportedly swallowed a crude bomb suspected to have been planted by poachers to hunt wild boars around 15 days ago. The bomb was suspected to have exploded, causing critical injuries to the animal. Its tongue was severed and jaw badly injured.

According to sources, the injured elephant was spotted by forest department officials on Monday.

Veterinary doctors from Nandankanan and OUAT were treating the injured animal inside the forest. However, the elephant reportedly succumbed in the wee hours.

It is suspected that the elephant might have strayed into Bharatpur forest from adjoining Khurda area.

Senior officials of the Forest department were not immediately available for comments.