Belagavi: Following the tragic death of two young elephants by electrocution in the Khanapur forest area on Sunday, forest minister Eshwar Khandre has directed officials to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report within five days. He also ordered strict action against those responsible for the incident.According to preliminary reports, a male and a female elephant, both around four years old, died after coming in contact with a live electric wire that snapped and fell across a paddy field in Sulegali village, under the Nagaragali Forest Range of Khanapur taluk.Expressing grief over the loss, minister Khandre noted allegations of negligence on the part of local forest officials, who reportedly failed to take precautionary measures despite the elephants being spotted in the area for several days. He instructed senior authorities to conduct a thorough probe and fix accountability.The order further directs the department to initiate legal action against the farmers who allegedly installed illegal electric fencing around their fields, which is believed to have caused the electrocution.According to the sources, many elephants have died in the Khanapur taluk forest over the past 10 years. In 2015, an elephant was electrocuted near Nersa. In the same year, an elephant calf died in Nagaragali forest after being hit by a speeding train. Another elephant died after being hit by a speeding train in 2017 near Golihalli. Now, two elephants died by electrocution.
