An elephant was fatally electrocuted after coming in contact with a high tension power line in Bacchidharma village in the Halduchaud area. On Monday morning villagers spotted the body of an elephant in the farm and on approaching closer ascertained that it was dead. It is being surmised that the elephant died after coming in contact with the high tension power line passing overhead in the area. According to the villagers, the 11,000 volts high tension line is hanging too low and the farm owner and Gram Pradhan had informed the local MLA and officials of the power department about it about one year ago. One week ago the Gram Pradhan had once again informed the departmental officials in writing but the necessary action was not taken. As a result, the elephant was fatally electrocuted at about 5 AM in the area which falls in the Gaula range of the Terai east forest division. After news of the incident spread, the local villagers along with former cabinet minister Harish Chandra Durgapal, Gram Pradhan Sangathan chairperson Rukmini Negi and other local public representatives reached the site where the villagers strongly criticised the apathetic attitude of the department concerned. As no official concerned had reached the site, three hours after the elephant carcass was discovered, Durgapal informed the power and forest department officials, asking that the officials concerned be sent to the site. Reaching the site of the incident, the power department SDO Manoj Pande said that the line would be rectified without delay. The Terai east divisional forest officer Sanjeev Kumar and other officials also reached the site where the post mortem of the elephant was conducted. The elephant’s carcass was buried on the spot after the post mortem.
Blocked elephant corridors threaten jumbo safety
Though delay by the department concerned to rectify the high tension power line is being considered the cause of death of the elephant on Monday, experts point out that accidental deaths of pachyderms have also taken place in the past. They point out that traditional elephant corridors being blocked is the reason why the jumbos stray into other areas and are often driven away by villagers when they approach a human habitation. At times, the elephants also turn violent when being driven away by the villagers. Impediments in the free movement of elephants on the corridors forces the elephants to stray to the detriment of both the pachyderms and the people. Various measures from excavation of trenches to erection of solar fencing have been initiated to keep the elephants away from human settlements. Officials state that the proposal has been sent to the authorities and the work will be expedited as soon as the budget is approved. However, experts point out that these are temporary measures which do not ensure the safety of the elephants.
Tuesday, 22 December 2020 | PNS | Haldwani
