Bhawanipatna, Feb 18: The death of an elephant in Belghar has sparked official scrutiny, with the District Forest Officer (DFO) Ghanashyam Mahanta receiving a show-cause notice from the Principal Secretary of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change. The notice, delivered to the DFO on February 13, directs him to submit a reply within 15 days.

The letter states that although the elephant died on January 5 in the Jhiri Pani beat of Belghar range, the DFO failed to inform the Chief Wildlife Warden, District Collector, and other authorities within 24 hours, in violation of official guidelines. Shockingly, news of the incident only reached the media nine days later.

The notice further criticizes the DFO for not visiting the site personally or initiating a direct investigation, instead delegating the task to ACF Suryakant Behera and suspended S.C.F. No action has reportedly been taken to determine the actual cause of the death or identify those responsible.

Following the death, Deputy Ranger Binay Kumar Bishi, along with his squad and driver, initially buried the elephant carcass at Kadapana Nursery. The carcass was later cut into 32 pieces and submerged in a canal at Demra, Kesingar in Kalahandi district. Disciplinary proceedings have now been initiated against seven officials, including Bishi and Behera.

Authorities have given DFO Mahanta 15 days to explain why departmental action should not be taken against him for alleged negligence in duty.