Tusker dies after coming in contact with live wire in Odisha’s Angul; probe on

Angul: An adult jumbo was killed as it came in contact with a live wire at Kantamegha village of Talagada panchayat under Bantala range and Angul division in this district. The carcass of the tusker was found today by some locals while it was lying near a banana orchard in the village.

According to an official source, some ill-motivated persons had laid a trap by laying live wire to protect their orchards. The pachyderm was found dead in the morning at the back side of a house owned by one Antara Sahu. An open wire was seen entangled around the elephant’s trunk. Later, the locals informed forest personnel and police about it for necessary action at their end.

On being informed, forest personnel from Angul reached the spot and seized the tusker’s body. The Department personnel have initiated a detailed probe into the suspicious death.

“Prima facie evidence suggests that the pachyderm died due to electrocution,” a forest official said.

It is pertinent to mention, another tusker died due to electrocution at Badahinsa village under Bantala forest range, on April 15. The Department had arrested two persons in this connection.