Central team takes stock of elephant deaths

BHUBANESWAR: Worried over the frequent incidents of elephant deaths in Odisha, the Centre on Saturday rushed two senior officials here to take stock of the situation.

The two-member investigating official team comprising Additional Director General (Wildlife) S S Gabrial and IG (wildlife) A M Singh met forest minister Bijayashree Routray and discussed the elephant deaths, including the December 30 in which five elephants were run over by Coromandal Express at Subalaya in Ganjam district.

Odisha in 2012 officially recorded nearly 60 elephants deaths, many due to electrocution and train hits. The team visited Subalaya, and spoke to the assistant executive engineer, Balugaon, representing the East Coast Railway and the local people. The officials wanted to meet the level-crossing gateman but he was not available.

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