Baripada, May 27: An elephant which was stranded in a trench died on Tuesday during rescue operation.
The incident took place in the Asanaghati forest under the Kuldiha Range where a pregnant elephant lost its life while it was being pulled out of the deep trench.
Source said, a female elephant fell into a trench, dug in the Asanaghati forest. Answering its trumpet, locals rushed to the spot and informed it to the Kuldiha and Kaptipada Range officials. Acting on it, an excavating machine was applied to pull the pachyderm out of the trench. However, the elephant succumbed to injuries despite the sincere effort of the rescuers.
Following this, a team of veterinarian conducted autopsy of the elephant wherein the pachyderm was found pregnant.
It is alleged that the life of the elephant and its infant could have been saved if a safe and better rescue method could have been worked out.
