Two Elephants Electrocuted in Chhattisgarh River, Two Arrested in Wildlife Crime Case
In a tragic incident that has raised alarms over wildlife protection, two elephants were found dead and their carcasses floating in a river in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district on Wednesday evening. The discovery prompted an immediate probe by the forest department, adding to a concerning tally of elephant fatalities in the region, where five such deaths have been reported in the past four months alone.
From Accidental Death to Wildlife Crime Investigation
Initially, officials suspected the elephants might have died accidentally during a river crossing, possibly due to getting trapped in slush or while bathing. However, this theory quickly evolved into a full-blown wildlife crime case as evidence mounted. The forest department, treating the incident as suspicious, launched an intensive investigation that led to the arrest of two men for the electrocution deaths of the elephants.
The breakthrough came after a detailed probe into the deaths at compartment number 1273 in the Kurkut river, an area already grappling with a string of elephant fatalities in recent months. Forest officials noted that the case posed significant challenges initially, as the carcasses were discovered in a riverine stretch, making it difficult to immediately determine the cause of death.
Investigation and Arrests
Acting on the instructions of Raigarh divisional forest officer Arvind PM, a dedicated team led by sub-divisional officer Ashutosh Mandawa and Gharghoda in-charge range officer Vikrant Singh carried out sustained questioning and field investigations. Their efforts culminated in the arrest of two individuals identified as Ramkumar Rathia, 55, and Dharam Singh Rathia, 38, both residents of Paka Darha village. A third accused remains at large and is currently being searched for by authorities.
During the investigation, officials uncovered that the accused had installed a motor pump in the river for irrigation purposes in their fields. Tragically, electric current from the setup spread into the water, and the two elephants came into contact with it, leading to their deaths approximately three days before their carcasses were recovered.
The forest department has seized material allegedly used in the crime, including:
- A solar panel
- Wires
- Battery
- Fencing wire
- Water pipe
Legal Actions and Wider Concerns
A case has been registered under the Wildlife Protection Act, and further legal proceedings are underway. The arrested men are scheduled to be produced before a court on Friday. This incident is not isolated; it echoes a similar case from about a year ago when three elephants were found dead together in the Chuhkimar plantation area of Bakchaba beat in Tamnar range. That case was later traced to electrocution from an 11 kV live wire, resulting in the suspension of the concerned circle in-charge and beat guard.
The latest case highlights a wider and worrying trend in Chhattisgarh. In a recent reply in the state assembly, the government disclosed that 38 elephants have died in Chhattisgarh between 2023 and 2026 so far, alongside 562 cases of unnatural deaths of other wildlife. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced conservation efforts and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws to safeguard these majestic animals and prevent such tragedies in the future.
