Forester suspended; action likely against Ranger over jumbo death in Odisha’s Keonjhar

Bhubaneswar: A forester has been suspended in connection with the death of a female elephant in Keonjhar district of Odisha recently.

Forester Kalandi Samal has been suspended in connection with the death of a female elephant at Kalikaprasad Reserve Forest under Champua Range of Keonjhar Forest Division, sources said.

The decomposed carcass of the female jumbo was recovered from the forest on December 4.

It is suspected that the pachyderm might have died of electrocution after it came in contact with a live wire near Rajia village, located close to the reserve forest.

The authorities concerned have served a show-cause notice on Forest Guard Sandeep Sahu and recommended appropriate action against Champua Ranger Akhaya Chhatria in connection with the jumbo death, sources said.

The Forest department has also registered a case against the SDO, Junior Engineer and lineman of TPNODL in this regard, sources added.