Odisha Minister Orders Probe Into Unnatural Death Of All Elephants In 2024

Bhubaneswar: In the wake of death of elephants due to unnatural reasons, the Odisha government has issued direction for investigation into such cases and take necessary action.

According to official sources, Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, Minister of State for Forest, Environment and Climate Change, has directed the additional chief secretary of his department to conduct a detailed investigation into the unnatural death of the elephants.

The additional chief secretary has been told to investigate the deaths of all the elephants in each forest division of the state in 2024. Around 50 elephants have died due to unnatural causes including electrification, shooting, train accident and others in the year so far, the sources said.

The minister has also directed to take necessary action to prevent such deaths of the elephants in one month and submit the report to him.

It may be noted that an adult elephant was found dead under suspicious circumstances near Gadiajor dam in Patnagarh block of Balangir district of Balangir district on Saturday.

Similarly, a team of Forest officials found a tusker injured with arrow wounds near Raghupani Dam in Narsinghpur block of Odisha’s Cuttack district on Saturday. The elephant had sustained injuries after being shot by two arrows.

Also Read: Tusker Treated For Arrow Wounds In Odisha’s Cuttack