Debagarh,10th Oct 2025: Devgarh is turning into a cursed zone for elephants. On September 12, a tusker died due to electrocution in Chiragunigudara village under the Palsama section of Riamal range. Just 15 days later, a similar incident has repeated. Another young tusker lost its life after coming into contact with an electric fence near the Dengsaragi village, under the Rengalbeda section of the same range.
The estimated 18-year-old tusker had reportedly been damaging paddy fields near the Tingabira-Nuandihi main road since Tuesday evening. By Wednesday morning, the elephant was found dead.
To protect their crops from elephant raids, farmers in the area have installed solar fencing. However, in this case, they had illegally connected high-voltage electric lines directly from power poles to the fences. As per the preliminary investigation, the elephant came into contact with the live wires and was electrocuted.
A post-mortem of the elephant has been conducted. The exact cause of death will be confirmed once the report is available, said the Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF).
There have been allegations that due to the negligence of forest department staff, human-elephant conflict in the Riamal forest region has been increasing. Concerned for their crops, farmers are risking lives by setting fire traps and using live wires to scare off elephants.
In the last three months, three people have lost their lives in elephant attacks in the district. The elephant herds are now scattered across different sections of Riamal range — including Kundheigola, Palsama, Nuandihi, and Rengalbeda — leading to frequent disturbances and growing public resentment.
There are rising demands for urgent measures to resolve the crisis.
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