Elephant demise axe on forest ranger in Odisha

By Express News Service
SAMBALPUR: Facing warmth over rising variety of elephant deaths, the State authorities has positioned below suspension the Sambalpur Sadar forest vary officer for negligence in offering safety to the jumbos.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Sambalpur Sanjeet Kumar mentioned vary officer Gourishankar Das was positioned below suspension as per the federal government’s order and has been instantly connected with the workplace of Regional Chief Conservator of Forests (RCCF).

The authorities had sought a report on the demise of elephants in sadar forest vary within the earlier years. Basing on the stories of the DFO, RCCF and PCCF, the federal government determined to droop the ranger. 

Das was discovered neglecting his duties which led to a excessive variety of elephant deaths reported in final two years from 2019 to 2021. During 2019-20, two elephant deaths have been reported within the vary.

On November 15, 2019, a male elephant died as a consequence of electrocution at Bhimkhoj. Similarly, one other elephant was discovered lifeless at Basiapara Birsinhgarh reserve forest in March final 12 months.

In 2020-21, 4 elephant deaths have been reported in the identical vary inside a span of round two months. Official sources mentioned on November 30 final 12 months, a male elephant died as a consequence of electrocution at Jaduloising beat of Basiapara.

This aside, an elephant was killed after being hit by Bhubaneswar-Rourkela Intercity Express close to Gargadbahal village between Jujumura and Hatibari on December 6, 2020. 

On December 21 final 12 months, a 12-year-old elephant was run over by Puri-Surat Express close to Hatibari station in Sambalpur forest division.  A feminine elephant additionally died after coming in touch with a reside wire in a farmland close to Kansar on January 21 this 12 months.