Injured elephant rescued from ditch in Sylhet
The elephant was given primary treatment by Sylhet Agricultural University and the Department of Livestock Services
An injured elephant was rescued from a ditch in Sylhet today (18 January).
Locals spotted the elephant in the ditch in the morning. Later, Fire Service, police and Forest Department personnel rushed to the spot and rescued the elephant around 3pm, according to Forest Department officials.
Locals said the elephant fell into the ditch around midnight after being hit by a train that departed from Dhaka. However, railway station authorities could not confirm whether the elephant was struck by a train.
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The elephant was given primary treatment by Sylhet Agricultural University and the Department of Livestock Services.
Professor Dr Sultan Ahmed of the Microbiology Department of Sylhet Agricultural University, who was involved in the treatment, said the elephant was completely exhausted after being lifted from the ditch.
"After primary treatment, it has started moving. We administered some medicines and saline. However, the two hind legs have been severely injured, and it will take a long time to fully recover," he said.
He added that based on the nature of the injuries and information from locals, the elephant likely fell into the ditch after being hit by a train.
Sylhet Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Abdur Rahman said the elephant was handed over to its owner after primary treatment.
He added that the elephant belongs to Kamrul Islam of Kulaura upazila in Moulvibazar, who had sent it to Sylhet on hire for a wedding ceremony the previous night.
