The Saranda region is in mourning following the deaths of several elephants. The latest loss, a young injured elephant on Thursday night, has led to villagers abstaining from cooking. This is the third elephant death, adding to the anguish in the forest.
Saranda, once alive with the presence of elephants, is now a place of ongoing sorrow. An elephant died in Serengsia village on Thursday morning, and a wounded young elephant passed away in Manoharpur during treatment that night.
The young elephant had been injured in an IED blast.
The villagers are struggling to cope with the continuing deaths. In both Serengsia and Manoharpur, no cooking fires were lit, and people went without food. Tears were common, and hearts were heavy. The villagers’ collective prayer is: “May God protect these innocent creatures from human cruelty.”
Local residents are now questioning the actions of the forest department and the administration.