An adult male elephant got stuck in midstream of Teesta river near Gajoldoba barrage in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district following sudden release of water today.
Ranger of Baikunthapur forest Sanjay Dutta said the elephant was part of 20-member herd which was moving from Bakunthapur forest to Lataguri. While the rest of the herd crossed over, the male elephant got stuck in the soft mud under the rising waters of the river.
Dutta said the forest department has requested the barrage authorities not to release any more water as it would not be possible to help the elephant out of the river until the water level recedes.
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Barrage authorities said more water has entered the system following heavy rains in Bhutan and Sikkim.
Forest department workers are at the site to help the elephant, while forest police personnel have been deployed to control the enthusiastic crowd which has gathered to see the elephant.
The water released by Teesta barrage has entered the low lying areas of Champadanga and Basusuba in Mal block and Domohoni in Moynaguri.
