Assam Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma has ordered a First Information Report against Patanjali Herbal and Mega Food Park near Tezpur in Assam in connection with the death of a female elephant who fell into a pit at the construction site on Wednesday. The elephant had followed her calf that had strayed away from the herd towards the site. She sustained serious injuries after she fell into the 10-feet deep pit and another male elephant that had also followed the calf fell on top of her.
The mother elephant died on Thursday after suffering for over 19 hours while her calf had to be forcibly rescued from the pit as he refused to leave her side. Officials said the calf has been sent to the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation at the Kaziranga National Park.
The Assam Forest Department has already filed a police complaint against the builder of Patanjali Mega Herbal and Food Park for negligence in providing safety to wild elephants and digging pits at the construction site.
Additional Conservator of Forest for the West Sonitpur Forest Division Jasim Ahmed said there were more than 14 open pits and some of them were filled up after Brahma visited the site following the death of the elephant. Brahma directed the builder to keep half of the over 200-acre land free from construction to facilitate elephant movement.
The foundation stone of the park was reportedly laid by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in the presence of Patanjali founder and yoga guru Ramdev. The state Congress claimed that the park was the site of an elephant corridor.
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