A wild elephant fell into an abandoned well in Latasahada forest under Muribahal range of Kantabanji, just a day after a similar incident in Bijamal village.
Local villagers spotted the elephant struggling and immediately alerted the forest department.
Forest officials rushed to the site and began rescue efforts. After two hours of coordinated work, the team successfully pulled the elephant out of the well. The incident highlighted recurring dangers posed by abandoned wells in forested areas.
Only a day earlier, villagers in Bijamal had reported a young elephant trapped in another abandoned well. Forest staff, firefighters, and police joined forces to rescue the calf. During that operation, Tikrapada Kenduleaf forest guard Pradeep Kumar Nath sustained serious injuries while assisting in the rescue.
Officials confirmed that both rescues required significant manpower and a quick response. They emphasised the need for preventive measures to secure abandoned wells in forest zones to avoid repeated accidents. The back-to-back incidents underline the vulnerability of elephants roaming near human settlements and the importance of community vigilance.
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