BHUBANESWAR: A day after the biggest-ever elephant tragedy in Dhenkanal rocked the State, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday ordered a Crime Branch probe into the matter.
Expressing deep concern, Naveen said, appropriate action must be taken in case of criminal negligence. The CM's direction comes after electrocution of seven jumbos at Kamalanga in Dhenkanal sparked a blame-game between the Forest and Energy departments.
While Forest and Environment Minister Bijoyshree Routray squarely blamed the Energy Department for the deaths, the latter has also started an inquiry into the matter. A series of deaths due to unnatural reasons has turned Odisha into a graveyard of elephants.
In 18 years, the State has lost over 175 elephants due to electrocution which means every year, around 11 elephant deaths occur due to electrocution. Though electrocution is mainly caused due to livewires, sagging overhead lines and electrified fences, steps are yet to be taken to address these issues and strengthen elephant tracking and patrolling mechanism which is the Forest Department mandate.