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The incident took place around 10.20 am when the Katarniaghat range headquarters received an alert from Kailashpuri Barrier.
Dudhwa Tiger Reserve field director H Rajamohan said the current initially overwhelmed the calves. The herd, comprising three adult elephants and two calves, had been caught in a strong downstream current and was drifting towards the barrage gates. The adult elephants entered the deep water in an attempt to rescue them, but the force of the current left the entire herd struggling to stay afloat.
Rescued elephants moved safely to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary screengrab screengrab Rescued elephants moved safely to Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary screengrab screengrab Pilibhit: A joint operation by the Katarniaghat wildlife division in Bahraich and the state irrigation department saved a herd of five wild elephants after they were swept towards the Girjapuri barrage by strong currents in the Kaudiyala river on Tuesday morning.
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“The herd safely returned to the forests of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, and none of the elephants was injured,” Dixit said. As the elephants neared the barrage sluices, divisional forest officer of Katarniaghat wildlife sanctuary Apoorv Dixit rushed to the site with a team of forest personnel. The forest department contacted irrigation officials, who shut the barrage gates to reduce the water flow. As the current slowed, the adult elephants regained their footing and guided the exhausted calves towards the riverbank. Forest personnel then used traditional noise-making techniques, known as hanka, to steer the herd away from the barrage. Download the TOI App.