Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya's message brings no attention; ill elephant slips to death-bed

A government that leaves no opportunity to evoke religious sentiments has ignored an animal that is worshipped as Lord Ganesha. On December 2, 2020, several netizens reported about an ill elephant in Putni Village located in Patherkhandi, Karimganj.

The Forest Minister of Assam Parimal Suklabaidya replied to one of the tweets stating that experts will take good care of the animal. However, ignorance and inadequate attention are all that the elephant received in the last 10 days.

DFO Karimaganj, Jainul Ali confirmed that the elephant has slipped into a coma and its condition is critical. “I have just returned after checking on the elephant. Contrary to what is being stated on Social Media, the elephant is still alive. However, it fell down and is not responding,” informed Ali.

Locals in the area mentioned that the DFO has visited the locality numerous times. “The DFO cannot do anything. They don’t have experts here who can treat an ailing elephant. They don’t even have the equipment to lift the elephant and take it to a hospital. It is lying helplessly in the ditch,” said a local resident.

The DFO had also spoken about the necessity of expert attention a couple of days back while speaking with Barak Bulletin. The elephant had attacked a specially-abled 40-year-old man who is no more. Despite such devastation, no expert attention was delivered to the elephant. This exposes the gap between the state capital and Barak which still very much despite Chief Minister’s repeated call for “Barak – Bramhaputra” assimilation.

“The experts were about to visit tomorrow. They were in an assignment somewhere in Upper Assam where crises broke. We were also in conversation with them over video conference. Antibiotics were administered to the elephant and it was improving. But we need to understand that the elephant has grown old and has been left isolated as its pack moved on,” Jainul Ali tried to cover up.

Also, what is astonishing is that the animal that had the strength to kill a man two days back suddenly grows so old to slip to a death-bed. It seems like a clear case of ignorance and little medical help could have saved the animal.