Jamshedpur: Elephant electrocuted in Jadugora, BJP leader blames forest officials

Mail News Service

Jadugora, Dec 13: A male elephant was electrocuted after coming in direct contact with an 11,000 volt high-tension overhead cable in Jadugora on Monday. The incident reportedly happened around 8 pm, sources said.

Irked over the incident, local villagers alleged that the mishap could have been prevented only if the forest officials were alert.

Local BJP leader Haldhar Das demanded stern departmental action against the local forest officials for failing to perform their duty and prevent the elephant death. He said the herd of around nine elephants had entered the residential patch of Jadugora three days back. The elephants were seen around Bhatin, Mechua and Jahirghuttu villages. Despite their continued presence, the forest officials did nothing to divert them to a safer zone, said Das.

Das said the elephant died after coming in contact with the high tension cable on the herd’s departure from the village. Local villagers burnt firecrackers and tyres to scare away the pachyderms who lost their way and eventually one of their members, said Das.

Forest officials brought three excavators to remove and bury the dead elephant. The villagers are apprehensive that the herd may revisit the spot as a part of their ritual to see the dead member.

Local social worker Kushal Soren said the forest department should give compensation to the local farmers as the elephants destroyed their crops and houses.

DFO to hold meeting with electricity dept officials

Jadugora, Dec 13: Dvisional forest officer (DFO) Mamata Priyadarshi would soon convene a meeting with the electricity department to discuss ways to prevent electrocution deaths of elephants. The meeting is being called to review the electrocution incident. This was informed by the forest ranger Vimad Kumar of Jadugora. He said forest department was not be blamed for the incident as forest officials had visited the village on Monday. The fuse of the local power feeder was blown after coming in contact with the elephant. Due to darkness, the elephant could not be searched, he said.

Electricity dept not responsible for elephant death: SDO

Jadugora, Dec 13: Electricity department SDO Prashant Raj Tuesday alleged that the death of a wild elephant after being electrocuted in Jadugora was not the result of any departmental recklessness. The elephant died when it raised its trunk and came in direct contact with the cable. He said the power cable was drawn over an eight feet high electric pole as per the prescribed benchmarks. He said the fuse of the power feeder of Mechua village went off after the elephant came in contact with it. Later, the power supply of the town was restored after discontinuing power supply to the village.