Elephant deaths at Bandhavgarh reserve: CM chairs emergency meeting amid rising toll

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav chaired an emergency meeting on Friday (Nov 1) over the rising deaths of several elephants at Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in the Indian state’s Umaria district.

Chief Minister Yadav directed that a high-level team should go to Umaria to get information about all aspects of the incident. There should be no delay in the ongoing investigation into various aspects related to the incident during this period before the investigation report comes, he said. 

Citing the latest data, a report by the news agency ANI early Saturday said that the death toll (of elephants) at the reserve climbed to eight, and one elephant was undergoing treatment.

The ANI report said that on Tuesday, four elephants, from a herd of 13 elephants, were found dead in the BTR while four others were found ill during normal patrolling. Upon receiving the information, forest officials reached the spot to understand the situation.

A forest official told the news agency that among those 13 elephants, two were normal and healthy while the treatment of the remaining elephants was initiated.

During treatment, three more elephants died on Tuesday night and one more died on Wednesday, taking the toll to eight.

“Latest update on Bandhavgarh Elephant death incident. A total of eight elephants died, one is undergoing treatment, two are fully recovered by treatment and two are healthy and normal,” the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department said in a post on X.

A funeral for the dead elephants took place at the reserve. According to a report by The Indian Express on Friday, a JCB machine poured sand and salt into an open pit, while forest officials placed flowers inside the grave, bidding farewell.

However, the funeral was interrupted by the trumpet of a male elephant, who stomped his feet and charged at forest officials burying his family members, the report said.

(With inputs from agencies)