One elephant was killed and two injured on the construction site for Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Herbal and Mega Food Park.
A female elephant fell into a 10-foot deep pit after her calf fell in. She fractured her leg and sustained a head injury after another elephant fell on her. Though efforts were made to rescue her, she died hours later.
The Rs 1000 crore park is being constructed over 150 acres in an environmentally sensitive zone near Kaziranga National Park.
It is a very tragic incident. While the area is known for frequent elephant movement, what appears is that the industrial park land given to Patanjali could be part of an elephant corridor which needs to be notified. Local people too have said that there has been elephant movement here for decades. I have asked my department officials to lodge an FIR against the company which is setting up a factory there.Pramila Rani Brahm, Assam Forest Minister
Elephants roam long distances, searching for food and water in what is called an elephant corridor. Construction near and on these corridors forces elephants into contact with humans and often results in deadly confrontations. Every year, hundreds of people in India are killed by elephants, while around 50 elephants are killed.
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A representative from Patanjali said the organisation was aware of elephant movement in the area and had posted people around the site to keep watch for animal movement, but they were unable to prevent the incident. Patanjali also plans to build a herbal garden which can act as an elephant refuge, the representative added.
Forest department officials are expected to file an FIR against Patanjali.
(With inputs from Janta Ka Reporter and Indian Express)
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