Finally, the tusker which trampled two persons nearly to death was tranquilised and captured. Those living in the BHEl township and its adjoining slums breathed a sigh of relief as the elephant on the rampage made them spend sleepless nights for over a week.
The plight of the commuters was also the same as they drove or rode with the threat of the elephant trampling them under its feet. The forest department officials said that the pachyderm was tranquilised on early Friday morning following an operation that ran for hours. The traffic was diverted to Haridwar industrial area on the hill by- pass road during the operation.
Rajaji tiger reserve veterinarian Dr Aditi Sharma led the team into the forest areas of Tibdi on Thursday night. After a night- long search operation, the team managed to locate the tusker at around 5 am in Bilwakeshwar Colony on the hill by- pass road. Divisional forest officer Akash Varma said that the elephant had also attacked the team members. “However, all of us are safe,” he added.
It is learnt that the elephant ran wildly after the tranquiliser was applied and it was located around two kilometres deep into the forest with the help of a sniffer dog.
Director of Rajaji tiger reserve Sanatan Sonkar said that the elephant captured is aged about 15 years. “It is a tusker. It would be released soon in the forest area under Meethawali range of Chilla of Rajaji Park and Reserve. However, it would be kept under strict observation there,” he added.
Earlier, a herd of elephants strayed into labour colony in the BHEl township on Thursday and went on the rampage. The herd was pushed back from the residential areas after hours of efforts by the forest and police officials.
Notably, at least eight persons have been killed in the past three years while over 20 injured have been injured in the elephant attacks in Haridwar district. The last to die was a vegetable vendor Chander from Tibdi who was trampled to death when he had gone to collect firewood from the forest area.