Chaibasa: The elephant injured in an IED explosion at Gidung in Saranda forest has died during treatment. Sources said the animal succumbed between 1.30 and 2 a.m., hours after eating fruits and vegetables. Officials noted that her condition had remained critical throughout Saturday, and by evening she had grown weak and inactive. A forest team and wildlife experts monitored her condition through the night, but she was found dead when the team visited the site again at dawn.
The forest department began the post-mortem and last rites in the jungle itself. The elephant had been under treatment since the blast, with specialists from Gujarat’s Vantara team assisting local forest officers. Authorities confirmed that the exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem report is received.
The Saranda forest, long affected by Maoist activity, has seen repeated incidents of explosives planted to target security forces. In several cases, wild animals have become unintended victims. With this latest death, the number of elephants killed in IED blasts in the area has risen to three.
Forest officials described the deaths as a grim reminder of the growing threat to wildlife in conflict zones. They said a detailed investigation is underway and stressed the urgent need for a coordinated plan to protect animals inhabiting the Saranda forest region.