​​​​​​​Dhenkanal, March 14: Amid rising incidents of elephant menace across the state, a tusker was found dead in the Dhenkanal Forest Division on Saturday. The carcass of the elephant was recovered near Bimbal under the Natkhata section of the Sadar forest range.

According to sources, the tusker had been creating havoc in the area for the past four days, damaging acres of maize crops. The elephant, estimated to be around 30 years old, was found lying near a maize field close to Natkhata village.

Forest officials rushed to the spot after receiving information and recovered the carcass. Preliminary findings suggest that the elephant might have come in contact with a solar fencing wire installed around the maize field to prevent crop damage.

Though the exact cause of death is yet to be confirmed, officials suspect that heavy electric current in the solar fence may have led to the elephant’s death. The Forest Department has sent the carcass for post-mortem examination and has launched an investigation.

Meanwhile, the owner of the maize field, Kailash Chandra Pradhan, has been detained by the Forest Department for questioning.