New Delhi: In a shocking incident, a wild elephant trampled two villagers to death near the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, in Umaria district of Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.
The villagers had gone to attend nature’s call when the elephant attacked the duo. Sources said that the elephant’s attack was retaliatory in nature, as it happened around 25 km from the area where 10 wild elephants of a herd of 13 died over the last three days between October 29 and 31.
Officials pointed out that the pachyderm which killed the villagers belonged to the same herd. A suspected toxin derived from kodo grain infected with fungus has been identified as the likely cause of the deaths of 10 elephants.
Four wild elephants were found dead in Sankhani and Bakeli under Khitoli range of the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve on October 29, while four elephants died on October 30 and two on October 31.
Probe into elephant deaths
On Friday, a senior forest department official said that samples gathered from the nearby fields and the elephants will be sent to the ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Izatnagar, located in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, as well as to the forensic laboratory in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority and MP’s state tiger strike force will also investigate the deaths of the 10 elephants.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has issued directions to Madhya Pradesh’s Minister of State for Forests Dileep Ahirwar, Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Ashok Barnwal, and the state’s Head of Forest Force Aseem Shrivastava to personally visit Umaria district and furnish a report on the elephant deaths. Besides, the government has announced a compensation of Rs 8 lakh for the families of the deceased.
