Odisha CM orders Crime Branch probe into the electrocution of seven elephants

Bhubaneswar: Expressing deep concern over the tragic death of seven elephants in electrocution Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday ordered a Crime Branch probe into the incident.

Seven elephants including a tusker and a calf were electrocuted near Kamalanga village under Sadar range of Dhenkanal district on Friday night when a herd of 21 elephants was crossing the village in search of food.

The elephants died as they came in contact with the live wire of sagging line of a 11KV line which was hanging just five feet above the ground level.

The Chief Minister also ordered the concerned authorities to take appropriate action in case of any criminal negligence in the tragic death of the elephants.

The Dhenkanal district collector yesterday called for a report from the Forest,Energy and Rail Vikash Nigam about the incident and State Energy Secretary Hemant Sharma constituted a three member expert team comprising of an Electrical Inspector, an Engineer and CESU Chief to conduct a spot inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, pending inquiry, the Forest & Environment department suspended three officials in connection with the death of seven elephants. They are Dhenkanal Range officer Prasanna Kumar Biswal, Forester of Meramundali section Prabhakar Rana and forest guard of Meramundali section Girish Chandra Dehury.

On the other hand the State Energy Department also initiated action and suspended three officials and dismissed one Sanjay Kumar Mohanty, of Electrical Section, Meramundali.

The Energy Department suspended Naresh Chandra Pattnaik, GM/(Ele)/Circle Manager, EC, Dhenkanal, Artatrana Nayak, SDO of Chainpal and Phiroj Panda, Lineman-B of Electrical Section, Meramundali on the charges of dereliction of their duty.

The Forest department had blamed the Energy department for the sheer negligence that led to the tragic death of seven elephants. (UNI)