Team of experts conducting post-mortem on Monday
Prof Niranjan Sahu, who headed the team, said dehydration and putrefaction levels of the three elephants were the same. The level of dehydration five days after the death is a symptom of lightning, he said. Lightning as a cause is considered very unusual.
The investigation team found that the pachyderms - two female and a calf - were found dead in close proximity. In case of a disease, the level of dehydration and putrefaction will not be the same while the animals are not likely drop dead in the same place. Same theory applies to poisoning too.
Prof Sahu of Odisha University if Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) performed the autopsy on the three elephants at the spot on Monday in presence of RCCF, Rourkela, Lingraj Ota and Deogarh DFO, Binay Kumar Biswasi on Monday. The team also comprises Dr Sourabh Hota, Dr Haresh Kumar Dalai, both from OUAT, Sub-Divisional Veterinary Officer Dr Ranjit Samantray and Tileibani Veterinary surgeon Dr Satyabrata Mishra.
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