Jumbo reaches Teesta shore after 7 hrs

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya | TNN | Jun 17, 2016, Jalpaiguri: An elephant, which was half way through crossing the Teesta at Gajoldoba in Jalpaiguri, got stranded in the river as the water level suddenly swelled on Thursday. After being stuck for more than seven hours, the makhna could finally wade its way to the shore and then went inside a nearby forest.

The rest of the herd-believed to have come out of the Kathambari forest-had managed to reach the other side into the Saraswatipur forest tract before the water rose.

"The makhna was the last one crossing the river and it got stranded near the Teesta Barrage owing to the rising water," said Bidhan Roy, a resident of the area.

Some foresters suspected that the elephants was not only stuck owing to the swelling river but a possible quick sand at the spot could have also made its movement impossible.

Senior foresters, including Sumita Ghatak, conservator of forests, wildlife, northern circle, and P R Pradhan, Baikunthapur divisional forest officer, besides Teesta Barrage executive engineer Shyamal Ghosal reached the spot. The forest department spoke to the Teesta Barrage authorities and convinced them to open three lock gates, situated nearby, to help the water recede. The opening of the lock gates did help decrease the water level but initially, it did not seem to help much owing to the continuous flow of water from the upstream. "The place where the elephant was stranded left us with few options. We could not get into the river to rescue the animal. Secondly, if there was a quick sand, any force from outside would have driven the animal to death. We have to wait and see," a senior forester said.

True to the officers' hope that the elephant would be able to move out, the animal did manage to wade to the shore after dark. "Elephants can usually move after dusk. Water receded, and it managed to cross the river after dark," an officer said.