Tragic Tusker Troubles: Uttarakhand Elephant Death Sparks Investigation

Two farmers have been arrested in Uttarakhand following the electrocution of an elephant in the Haridwar forest division. Officials are conducting a post-mortem to confirm the cause of death. This incident follows a similar elephant death days earlier, prompting a ban on live electric wires in fields.

In Uttarakhand's Haridwar forest division, authorities have arrested two farmers after the tragic discovery of an elephant's body, believed to have died from electrocution, officials reported.

The elephant was found on Monday in a field within the Khanpur Range's Raighati area. This marks the second such incident within three days, as another elephant was found dead in the Rasulpur forest beat recently.

The forest department has reacted by prohibiting live electric wires in the fields. Haridwar Divisional Forest Officer Swapnil Anirudh stated that the animal's carcass was discovered in a field owned by farmer Sompal in the Shah Mansoor beat, where live wires were installed. The post-mortem is ongoing to ascertain the definitive cause of death.

Farmers Vikram and Irfan, whose fields contained live wires, have been taken into custody. Officer Anirudh warned of legal consequences for those maintaining live wires in the fields, indicating rigorous enforcement following these incidents.

(With inputs from agencies.)