Bhubaneswar, April 1: As many as 843 jumbos died in Odisha during last 10 years, said Forest and Environment minister Bikram Keshari Arukha.

Answering to MLA Mohan Charan Majhi ,Arukha said that 83 elephants died in 2010-11 across Odisha forests. Similarly, 68 elephants perished in 2011-12 while 82 in 2012-13.

 Similarly, 70 elephants died due to unspecified reasons in 2013-14.In 2014-15, as many as 54 elephants died in  Odisha while the number reached 86 during 2015-16.

Apart from it, in 2016-17 the death toll of elephants touched 75 mark. The very next year 78 elephants died for various reasons.

The year 2018-19 proved more fatal for the biggest mammal when the forest department saw death of 93 elephants. In the year 2019-20, elephant’s death in Odisha reduced to 82. As on March 22, 2021 the forest department has recorded that as many as 72 jumbos have died in Odisha forests, said Arukha.