Elephant calf dies after falling into well in Nayagram

Kharagpur: A tragic incident unfolded in Bachhurkhoar village of Nayagram block when a two-to-three-year-old elephant calf died after falling into an open well. Despite rescue efforts by its herd and forest officials, the calf could not be saved.

According to forest department sources, a herd of approximately 25 elephants entered the locality from the Dorkhuli side of Tapoban forest around 3 am on Wednesday. The herd reportedly approached a brick kiln area in search of jackfruits when the calf, unable to see the well in the darkness, accidentally fell into it.

At daybreak, villagers discovered the herd circling the well. Witnesses reported that the elephants made multiple attempts to rescue the calf, extending their trunks into the well and scraping soil from its edges. Even after the rest of the herd moved away, a female elephant remained near the site, believed by forest officials to be the calf’s mother.

Forest workers from the Pratappur Beat under Chandabila Range were alerted to the situation and launched a rescue operation. A JCB machine was deployed to excavate one side of the well to aid the rescue efforts. Unfortunately, the calf could not be saved, with forest officials suspecting that soil collapsing into the well during the herd’s attempts may have caused breathing difficulties for the animal. The carcass has been sent for postmortem examination.