Two elephants found dead in river in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district

Two elephants were found dead in a river in Chhattisgarh’s Raigarh district, forest officials said on Thursday, prompting an investigation into the cause of their deaths.

The carcasses of the two jumbos were spotted in the Kurkut river under the Gharghoda forest range on Wednesday . A forest department team later retrieved the bodies from the river and initiated preliminary procedures.

Officials said the discovery was reported by local forest staff during routine monitoring in the area. Senior officers reached the spot soon after receiving the information and began examining the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

“A dog squad and personnel from the electricity department, including a flying squad, have been called to assist in the investigation as a precautionary measure,” a forest official said. He added that the exact cause of death would be determined only after the post-mortem examination of the animals.

Authorities are exploring all possible angles, including electrocution or other unnatural Icauses, while waiting for the veterinary report.

The incident comes amid concerns over wildlife mortality in the state and across India. During the ongoing Budget Session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly, the state government informed the House that 38 elephants and nine tigers have died in the last 26 months due to various reasons, including electrocution, poaching, and territorial fights.

Nationally, 121 elephants died in India in the financial year 2023–24 (April 2023–March 2024) due to similar causes, highlighting the ongoing threat to the species.

Forest department officials said steps are being taken to strengthen monitoring and reduce wildlife deaths, particularly in areas where human–animal conflict and power infrastructure pose risks to animals.