Latest news with #AviroopSinha
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
Maoist mines turn Saranda's forest into jumbo killing fields
Asia's largest sal forest spread across 900sqkm in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum hides death beneath its green pall RANCHI/JAMSHEDPUR: Gunfire didn't ring out in the forest. It cracked with the weight of an elephant's scream. A six-year-old female collapsed near a stream, leg mangled, bleeding into the mud. Four days later, a 15-year-old bull dropped dead deeper in the jungle, a Maoist IED buried under the red soil of Saranda, triggered by a footstep. Asia's largest sal forest spread across 900sqkm in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum hides death beneath its green pall. Elephants are walking into Maoist landmines, traps meant for troops. Two deaths in one week. Officials fear more lie wounded and unseen. Search patrols sweep elephant trails and riverbanks. Drones buzz low above watering holes. Five are deployed, but monsoonal rain, foliage and fog obscure visibility. "We first got wind of a wounded elephant weeks ago," said DFO Aviroop Sinha. "It was only on June 28 that we managed to spot it through drone feed and send help." Teams are working across four divisions - Kolhan, Porahat, Chaibasa, and Saranda - each step a gamble. "It's hostile terrain," Sinha said. "Security concerns make it worse. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like She Took 1 Teaspoon Before Bed – Her Belly Was Gone in a Week Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo But we've deployed field patrols wherever we can." IEDs have long turned Saranda's forest trails into minefields. Since November 2022, at least six security personnel have been killed and more than two dozen wounded during combing operations. Maoists and breakaway factions have laid explosives across the forest - old ones buried years ago, fresh ones planted in 2024 and 2025. Civilians aren't spared either. Twenty villagers have died - some while collecting firewood, others while foraging for mahua. In Saranda, every path winds into uncertainty - for soldier, villager, and elephant alike. "We have no maps, no numbers, no idea how many explosives are buried out there," said a forester. "We just move with caution and gut feeling." The forest department has begun treating IED-triggered elephant deaths as a conservation emergency. Field teams have been ordered not to enter unknown terrain. Surveillance focuses on riverbanks - likely spots for wounded elephants to rest. But with rain sweeping the region, even drone eyes fail. Regional chief conservator of forests Smita Pankaj said search ops are on high alert. But mobility remains limited. "We're also planning a joint effort with Odisha's Rourkela and Keonjhar divisions, as elephants use trans-border corridors," she said. Just recently, a herd of 40 moved from Saranda to Karampada in Odisha. Wildlife expert DS Srivastava called the elephant casualties unprecedented. "This is new," he said. Srivastava surveyed Saranda between 2015 and 2016. "Even then, locals told us to avoid human trails," he said. Each footstep could be the last for man and wildlife alike. And when a trunk lifts to call for help, the cry often vanishes into the forest - an SOS swallowed by the Sal.
Time of India
11-07-2025
- Time of India
Elephant, injured in IED blast, dies
Rourkela: A 15-year-old elephant succumbed to its injuries sustained allegedly in an IED explosion at Saranda forest division in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident marks the second elephant death in the area within a week due to explosive devices allegedly planted by Maoists. The injured elephant, a makhna (a tuskless male elephant), was spotted by locals in Tirilposi village, Samta forest range, with a severe wound on its left hind leg. Despite efforts by the rapid response team and mobile veterinary unit from the Rourkela forest division, along with veterinary doctors from Keonjhar and Jharkhand, the elephant died on Thursday evening. Aviroop Sinha, divisional forest officer of Saranda division, expressed concerns over the increasing threat of IEDs in the forest. "The nature of the injury suggests the elephant was a victim of an IED explosion. We are in talks with security personnel to devise strategies to protect these animals from such threats," Sinha said. The post-mortem of the elephant was conducted on Friday with preliminary findings indicating the cause of death as injuries sustained from an IED explosion. This follows a similar incident six days prior when an 11-year-old elephant died from grievous injuries caused by an explosive device. The post-mortem report of the earlier incident described 'massive damage and bones charred'. The presence of IEDs in Saranda forest poses a significant threat not only to wildlife but also to human safety. In response, 20 forest personnel have been deployed across four forest divisions, including Saranda, to monitor animal movements using drones.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Injured elephant dies after suspected Maoist IED blast in Jharkhand's Saranda forest
RANCHI: A six-year-old wild elephant named 'Gadru', which was seriously injured in a suspected IED blast planted by Maoists in the Saranda Forest of Chaibasa, has sadly succumbed to its injuries despite intensive treatment efforts. The elephant had been spotted wandering in the forest in an injured condition ten days ago. Gadru was believed to have sustained injuries on June 24, but it was only located on June 27 with the help of a drone camera. Despite exhaustive efforts by the Forest Department and veterinary experts, the elephant could not be saved. 'After several hours of treatment, the elephant finally collapsed late on Saturday evening due to excessive blood loss and infection. It had sustained a major injury to its hind limb, which became severely infected and spread throughout its body,' said Saranda Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Aviroop Sinha. He added that further details would be available following the post-mortem, scheduled for Sunday.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Five forest dept teams in Saranda to rescue wounded jumbo
1 2 Jamshedpur: Forest officials on Thursday pressed five teams to attend to a six-year-old wounded elephant that was sighted in Maoist-hit Saranda forest division of West Singhbhum. Divisional forest officer (DFO) Aviroop Sinha said, "The elephant sustained an injury to its left leg and is experiencing difficulty walking. Teams are at the spot to rescue the elephant, examine the cause of the wound and administer treatment to it. A team from Odisha has also reached the area." A few locals claimed that the injury could be due to an IED blast. Refuting these claims, the DFO added, "Prima facie, there isn't any concrete evidence to conclude that the would is the result of an IED blast. The elephant got injured probably on June 28. It walked into our jurisdiction on Wednesday." Earlier, Saranda forest officials deployed a drone to locate the elephant. The elephant was spotted pouring water on the wound while standing in the waterlogged field in the Digha area of the forest, he added.
New Indian Express
03-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Elephant allegedly injured by Maoist IEDs in Jharkhand's Saranda forest
RANCHI: The IEDs allegedly planted by Maoists in the Saranda jungles of Chaibasa are no longer a challenge only for security forces, they have now become a potential threat to wild animals as well. A six-year-old elephant has been found roaming in the Saranda jungles, suspected to have been injured by one of these explosive devices. The suspicion has grown stronger after the elephant was found with a wound on its left hind leg, which was badly swollen. Those who spotted the elephant said it was seen splashing water on its wound, indicating it was in deep pain. According to local sources, the incident allegedly took place between June 24 and 26. The injured elephant was last seen on 27 June near the Digha area of Saranda. Forest officials also confirmed that the elephant had been injured, although the cause of the injury is yet to be ascertained. 'It was reported on June 27 that an elephant has been found injured in the jungles, but after that, it disappeared into the dense forests of Saranda, following which it was being monitored closely. Today, we have located the elephant and the process to rescue it has been started,' said Saranda Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Aviroop Sinha. The cause of the injury will be confirmed only after medical examination, once the elephant is recovered, he added.
