Odisha CM Orders High-Level Probe Into Death of 5-Year-Old Elephant in Sambalpur

Bhubaneswar, July 13 (UNI): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Saturday ordered a high-level investigation into the tragic death of a five-year-old female elephant in Sarpali village, under the Redhakhol forest division in Sambalpur district.

Expressing deep grief over the incident, the Chief Minister assured strict action against those responsible. “No one involved will be spared. The state government is committed to protecting wildlife, and any lapse will be dealt with firmly,” he said in a statement.

Preliminary reports suggest that the elephant may have died after being attacked by a man in the Nakti Deul area of the Redhakhol division. The exact cause, however, remains under investigation.

In response to the Chief Minister’s directive, a high-level team led by Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Manoj Nair has rushed to the spot to probe the circumstances surrounding the elephant’s death. Senior officials from both the Forest and Electricity departments have also joined the investigation to examine all possible angles, including whether any electrocution or human-wildlife conflict was involved.

Forest officials have cordoned off the area, and a post-mortem is expected to be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The incident has sparked concerns among wildlife activists and environmentalists, who have urged the state government to strengthen measures for elephant protection, particularly in conflict-prone zones like Sambalpur.

This marks yet another worrying case of human-elephant conflict in Odisha, a state with a significant elephant population that continues to face habitat loss and encroachment. The state government has faced repeated calls to enhance patrolling, install early-warning systems, and promote community-based conservation to prevent such tragic incidents.

The probe committee is expected to submit a detailed report soon, based on which further action will be taken.