Elephant deaths in MP: 2 Bandhavgarh reserve officials suspended for lapses
PTI, Nov 4, 2024, 9:27 AM IST
Representative image (PTI /file)
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday suspended two senior officials of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve after a high-level team that probed the death of 10 elephants inside the park submitted its report.
The report doesn’t point to any pesticide or the role of “another side”, the CM said.
Action has been taken against reserve director Gaurav Choudhary and in-charge assistant conservator of forest (ACF) officer Fateh Singh Ninama for alleged lapses. The reserve has drawn national attention following the deaths of the elephants in about 72 hours.
“The high-level team has submitted its report. Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve director has been suspended for switching off his phone, not returning to work after leave and other reasons. ACF Fateh Singh Ninama has also been suspended,” the CM told PTI here.
Both have been suspended for showing laxity in performing their duties, he added.
Calling the jumbo deaths “very painful”, the CM said the government took the matter seriously and sent the forest minister and senior officials to the reserve for a probe.
Yadav said the initial report doesn’t point to any pesticide (in the food consumed by the elephants) or the involvement of “another side”. “The post-mortem report of the elephants will come in two or three days,” he added.
Officials had earlier talked about toxicity along with huge quantities of kodo millets in the stomachs of the 10 elephants that died in the reserve.
The CM on Friday night had called an emergency meeting and sent a team comprising MP forest junior minister Pradeep Ahirwar, additional chief secretary Ashok Baranwal and head of Forest Force Aseem Shrivastava to the reserve to probe the elephant deaths and submit a report.
The team returned to Bhopal on Sunday evening.
On October 29, four wild elephants were found dead in Sankhani and Bakeli under the Khalil range of the reserve in Umaria district, while four died on October 30 and two on October 31.
The elephants may have died after consuming some toxic substance, as per officials. Several other teams are also probing the incidents.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
BJP, PM Modi ‘trying to destroy’ Constitutional values: Priyanka Gandhi
SC permits LMV driving licence holders to drive transport vehicles with weight up to 7,500 kg
Original East India Company wound up but new breed of monopolists is in its place: Rahul
Pune gangrape case: 2 arrested men gave false info about 3rd absconding accused, say police
A third of Ranthambore’s 75 tigers missing, say officials
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
Lokayukta police questions Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for 2 hours in MUDA case
BJP, PM Modi ‘trying to destroy’ Constitutional values: Priyanka Gandhi
SC permits LMV driving licence holders to drive transport vehicles with weight up to 7,500 kg
Belthangady: Viral video shows woman rescuing Python
Bengaluru: Former business tycoon, national-level bike rider arrested for serial chain thefts
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.