Death of 18 elephants: NESAC highlights facts behind Koldoli tragedy in Nagaon

A CORRESPONDENT

NAGAON: A meteorological report from North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) brings to light the hidden facts behind the May 12 Koldoli tragedy in which 18 elephants were killed.

NESAC submitted its report to the forest department on Monday detailing the severe weather condition in the specific region on that night which led to the death of the elephants. NESAC is a Shillong-based organization working under Meteorological Survey of India. Dispur recently provided the centre GPS and other details to unearth the hidden facts behind the Kondoli tragedy.

As per the report, the hilly region faced two repeated lightning within an interval of 7 minutes at 9.12 PM on May 12. First of the two was comparatively stronger as that generated 39000 A (Ampere) electricity. Then the two serial lightning clouds abnormally came down in the area as that happens in the event of cloud blast.

NESAC, however, titled it as lightning and explained that the weather condition was worst during that time and that led to the two series of very high intensity lightning.

On Monday, 18 elephants, including three calves and 10 female mature elephants, were killed in that site under Kothiatoli forest range under Nagaon forest division. Next day, people saw the bodies of the elephants and reported to the local Kondoli beat office. The Forest department titled the incident as the most painful tragedy and ordered a high-level inquiry into the entire episode.

Conservator of forest, Bankim Sarma on Tuesday said that the one-man investigation was going on and the department would soon submit the NESAC report at time. Massive destruction of forest cover, lack of proper aforestation drive and departmental manpower crunch are the reasons behind the less green cover in the forest areas in Nagaon - Karbi Anglong inter-district bordering areas.

A forest department source on Tuesday said that the elephants might not have been killed if the region had a cover of thick big trees. "We have three problems which are very practical. First, big trees are stolen for timber purposes, when saplings are planted, woodcutters cut these for fuel purposes. Third, manpower shortage stands on the way of monitoring these issues," the source said.

Also Read: Lightning Kills 18 Elephants in Nagaon District, CM Takes Stock of Elephant Deaths