18 elephants in Assam may have been killed by a lightning strike: Experts

In Assam's Nagaon, 18 elephants have been killed by a single lightning strike, experts have surmised. The freak incident happened on Wednesday night at a hill in the Kundoli proposed reserve forest in the Kathiatoli range.

After a thorough examination of the carcasses of 18 elephants found dead in a forest in Assam's Nagaon district, and circumstantial evidence, a team of experts suggested that the jumbos could have been killed by a lightning strike, an official release said on Saturday.

Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya visits the site where eighteen elephants are believed to have died in lightning strikes, at Bamuni Hills in Nagaon on Friday. (ANI Photo)

However, the samples collected by the team are being examined for micro-biological and toxicological aspects in the laboratory.

"This freak natural incident is also being corroborated by meteorological reports", the release said. A final report would be released only after all the examinations have been completed, it said.

The incident happened on Wednesday night at a hill in the Kundoli proposed reserve forest in the Kathiatoli range.

It was found that carcasses were lying in two groups. Fourteen adult elephants were found atop the hill, and another four bodies were found scattered on the foothills on Thursday. Detailed examination of the carcasses was carried out while viscera and other samples were collected for forensic investigations. Veterinary experts from the College of Veterinary Science here, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, District Veterinary Officer, doctors from the Assam State Zoo, and other wildlife organisations were engaged in conducting post-mortem examinations and collection of samples.

The committee was directed to submit a preliminary report within three days and a detailed investigation report within 15 days. The minister, accompanied by senior officials of the department, a team of veterinarians, and wildlife experts, had visited the spot on Friday to take stock of the situation. After assessing the situation with top forest officials, Suklabaidya had also said that preliminary investigation revealed that the pachyderms have died probably due to lightning as there were no visible signs of struggle.

The Forest Range Officer of Kathiatoli Range of Nagaon Forest division had received information on Thursday from the Assistant Manager of Topajuri Tea Estate about four elephant carcasses. A team of forest officials along with local villagers began a search of the Konduli Reserve forest and during the operation, four carcasses were found on the Bamuni foothill, while 14 elephants were found dead, around one kilometer away, the release added.