Truck kills elephant on Noida e-way

Police said the driver abandoned the truck and fled.

The elephants — 45-year-old Roopkali and Chanchal (30) — were returning to Delhi from a marriage ceremony in Dadri. Chanchal’s right hind leg was fractured and veterinary doctors were treating her on the spot.

“Roopkali took the full force of the truck. She collapsed and died. Chanchal was injured,but her mahout,Mukut Kumar,escaped with minor bruises,” a police officer said.

“Mukut told us that he saw the driver flee. His first priority was to check on the elephants,so he did not chase him. We have impounded the truck,but the driver is still at large. A case has been registered against him at Sector 39 police station,” the officer said.

Veterinarians from the Wildlife Trust of India were treating Chanchal.

“I reached Noida around 9.30 am. By then,Roopkali was already dead and workers were preparing to put the carcass on a truck. Chanchal was unable to stand and was in great agony. Her right hind leg came under the wheels. She is responding to medication,” Dr Amin,who is attending to the injured elephant,said.

“Around 8.30 pm we decided that she has to stay overnight near the Mahamaya flyover (where she is being treated). She can be taken home (Wazirabad) on Saturday morning. A doctor will be by her side throughout the night. Saving her is top priority now,” Dr Amin said.

Chanchal’s handler Mukut was inconsolable. “This is our business. We keep elephants in our home in Wazirabad. Roopkali has been with our family since birth. She was very gentle. I will stay with Chanchal tonight and arrange for a truck to take her home tomorrow. Doctors told me she will recover,” he said.

The accident triggered a traffic snarl near the spot where the elephants were hit. People stopped to look at them and,later,to enquire about Chanchal.

Noida resident Anusha Singh,whose office is in Delhi,said it took her two hours in the morning to cross the stretch that normally takes 20 minutes. “Even I couldn’t help but stop on my way to office. It was agonising to watch the injured elephant cry out in pain,” she said.