Five wild elephants rescued from raging Koudiyala river floodwaters in Bahraich

Five wild elephants, including two calves, were rescued from the raging floodwaters of the Koudiyala river in Bahraich district on the morning of August 25, 2026, following swift interagency coordination between the forest and irrigation departments. The herd was swept away by the powerful current near the Geruwa river area and was headed dangerously toward the Girajapuri barrage when forest officials received a distress alert at approximately 10:20 am.

The river's water level and fierce current had become so intense that the two young calves were struggling to stay afloat. Three adult elephants in the herd, attempting to rescue the calves, also became trapped in the torrent and were battling the strong flow. The Range Officer of Katarniaghat immediately rushed to the Girajapuri barrage site with a team of forest personnel upon receiving the wireless message through the Kailashpuri barrier.

In a crucial intervention, the forest department contacted irrigation officials who demonstrated exceptional responsiveness by immediately closing the barrage gates. This action significantly slowed the river's current and stabilized the water level, giving the struggling elephants a fighting chance. Once the flow subsided, the adult elephants regained control and guided both calves toward safety.

The forest team then systematically used the 'haanka' method, employing loud noises and calls to drive the entire herd away from the barrage area toward the nearby dense forest. All five elephants have now safely entered the forest and are under continuous monitoring by forest personnel.

Officials praised the quick thinking and alertness of forest staff combined with the timely extraordinary cooperation from the irrigation department, noting that this coordinated effort prevented what could have been a major tragedy. The successful rescue operation has been widely commended as a model of interagency collaboration in wildlife emergency response.