Jumbo Death In Road Mishap: Gangabandhu Scheme To Be Launched In Odisha’s Dhenkanal

Bhubaneswar/Dhenkanal: Additional PCCF and director of Nandankanan Zoo Sashi Paul on Friday visited the spot on National Highway 55 at Jeevankhol Ashram under Sadar forest range of Dhenkanal, where a speeding truck had mowed down an elephant calf the previous day.

He informed that three elephants had reportedly got separated from the herd and were crossing the road when the mishap occurred as the truck was ‘over-speeding’.

Forest Department officials have taken steps to ensure safe passage of the other 26 elephants in the herd, he further said, adding that efforts are on to trace the tusker which got injured after being hit by the truck.

On steps being taken to bring down the elephant-human conflicts in the district, Pual said four underpasses will be constructed under the proposed NH expansion project to allow safe passage to the elephants.

He further said that ‘Gajabandhu’ scheme will soon be launched on a pilot basis in 30 villages in Dhenkanal district.

In September last year, the Odisha government had decided to introduce the scheme following death of three elephants in a road mishap in Keonjhar. Under the scheme, the Forest Department will appoint ‘Gajabandhus’ in villages surrounding elephant corridors to get information on their movement and location.

Timely information will help in driving away the elephant herds from human settlements, he added.