18 elephants killed in lightning strikes in Assam
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In a saddening incident, a herd 18 wild Asiatic elephants were found dead on 13th May, 2021 in Nagaon district of Assam. According to Assam Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, the initial investigation suggests that the elephants died due to electrocution caused by lightning.
The body of eighteen dead elephants out of which fourteen were adult elephants were found dead by villagers lying scattered on the foothills of the Kundoli reserve forest area of Assam, 160km (99 miles) from the state capital of Dispur.
In recent years, wild elephants that constantly come out of the forests in search of food have entered nearby villages, destroyed crops and even killed people. Conservationists have urged the government to prevent encroachment of people and to establish free corridors for the elephants to move between forests safely.
