Chhattisgarh forest department suspends officials after tragic death of
three elephants due to electrocution (Raipur)
Partha Behera, Times of India
October 28, 2024
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department suspended a Deputy Ranger and a Beat
Guard in connection with the death of three female elephants due to
electrocution in the Gharghoda range of Raigarh forest division three days
ago. A Preliminary Offence Report (POR) was released, and the Chhattisgarh
Power Company was informed about the incident.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Raigarh, Stylo Mandavi, told TOI
that Deputy Ranger Ajay Khes and Beat Guard Sanyasi Sidar were suspended
for dereliction of duty.
"We released a POR in the matter, and the Chhattisgarh Power Company was
informed about it," she said. When asked about any action taken by the
power company regarding the loose 11-KV live electric wire hanging at a
height of 3-4 metres from the ground level, which led to the death of three
elephants, including a calf aged 8-9 years and two elephants aged about
30-23 years, the DFO stated that the Power Company should ensure action
against the staff responsible.
The three elephants were found dead in the forests of Raigarh division on
Saturday morning.
According to the information received, in the Tamnar range of Raigarh
district, on Saturday morning, the carcasses of elephants were found in the
Chuhkimar forest department nursery of Samaruma range after they came in
contact with the wire.
As soon as the information about this incident was received, the team of
Tamnar and Gharghoda range, including the DFO along with the officials of
Raigarh Forest Division, reached the spot.
The forest department team sent Achanakmar Tiger Reserve Field Director and
Conservator of Forest Manoj Pandey to the spot for an inspection and to
submit the report to the department. According to Pandey, he submitted his
report to the department.
Initial investigation also revealed that the nursery in-charge of the
forest department complained many times to the local employees of the
electricity department about the 11KV line wire being down, but despite
this, no initiative was taken in this regard, resulting in this incident.
In the investigation by the forest department, it was also found that a
herd of around 40 elephants was roaming in the Gharghoda range when the
incident occurred, and the concerned Beat Guard did not monitor properly in
view of the safety of the elephants. After serious negligence was found in
this matter, the Raigarh DFO suspended the Beat Guard and the Deputy Ranger.
According to the DFO, after taking departmental action, the negligence of
the electricity department also came to light in this incident. In such a
situation, a notice was sent to the officials of the Gharghoda electricity
department for this. Along with this, an explanation was sought so that
further action could be taken in this matter.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/chhattisgarh-forest-department-suspends-officials-after-tragic-death-of-three-elephants-due-to-electrocution/amp_articleshow/114689966.cms
Chhattisgarh forest department suspends officials after tragic death of
three elephants due to electrocution (Raipur)
Partha Behera, Times of India
October 28, 2024
The Chhattisgarh Forest Department suspended a Deputy Ranger and a Beat
Guard in connection with the death of three female elephants due to
electrocution in the Gharghoda range of Raigarh forest division three days
ago. A Preliminary Offence Report (POR) was released, and the Chhattisgarh
Power Company was informed about the incident.
The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Raigarh, Stylo Mandavi, told TOI
that Deputy Ranger Ajay Khes and Beat Guard Sanyasi Sidar were suspended
for dereliction of duty.
"We released a POR in the matter, and the Chhattisgarh Power Company was
informed about it," she said. When asked about any action taken by the
power company regarding the loose 11-KV live electric wire hanging at a
height of 3-4 metres from the ground level, which led to the death of three
elephants, including a calf aged 8-9 years and two elephants aged about
30-23 years, the DFO stated that the Power Company should ensure action
against the staff responsible.
The three elephants were found dead in the forests of Raigarh division on
Saturday morning.
According to the information received, in the Tamnar range of Raigarh
district, on Saturday morning, the carcasses of elephants were found in the
Chuhkimar forest department nursery of Samaruma range after they came in
contact with the wire.
As soon as the information about this incident was received, the team of
Tamnar and Gharghoda range, including the DFO along with the officials of
Raigarh Forest Division, reached the spot.
The forest department team sent Achanakmar Tiger Reserve Field Director and
Conservator of Forest Manoj Pandey to the spot for an inspection and to
submit the report to the department. According to Pandey, he submitted his
report to the department.
Initial investigation also revealed that the nursery in-charge of the
forest department complained many times to the local employees of the
electricity department about the 11KV line wire being down, but despite
this, no initiative was taken in this regard, resulting in this incident.
In the investigation by the forest department, it was also found that a
herd of around 40 elephants was roaming in the Gharghoda range when the
incident occurred, and the concerned Beat Guard did not monitor properly in
view of the safety of the elephants. After serious negligence was found in
this matter, the Raigarh DFO suspended the Beat Guard and the Deputy Ranger.
According to the DFO, after taking departmental action, the negligence of
the electricity department also came to light in this incident. In such a
situation, a notice was sent to the officials of the Gharghoda electricity
department for this. Along with this, an explanation was sought so that
further action could be taken in this matter.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/chhattisgarh-forest-department-suspends-officials-after-tragic-death-of-three-elephants-due-to-electrocution/amp_articleshow/114689966.cms
