Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Odisha Forest Minister Ganesh Ram SingKhuntia issued an order for a thorough investigation into the state’s elephants’ unexplained deaths. Concern about the approximately 50 elephant deaths in the state this year was voiced by SingKhuntia in a letter to Satyabrat Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change.
The minister described the situation that has been making the rounds in the media as extremely concerning and stated that more attention and precautions are required to stop the problem. He said that the government has been using Rapid Action Teams, Gaja Sathis, and other measures to save the elephants from dying in an unnatural way. To provide a secure environment with statutory protection measures for the safety of the elephants, however, forest officials must now act with greater care and honesty.
The minister stated that the issue must be prioritized and that negligent cops cannot be allowed to get away with it. According to him, police who are deemed to be careless and ineffective in protecting the jumbos’ lives would face consequences. Singkhuntia has directed that jumbo fatality events be thoroughly investigated at the division level, that those found guilty face severe consequences, and that a report be submitted within a month.
