62 Elephants prompt closure of 9 schools in Marwahi
Nine schools located in several villages within the Marwahi area of Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district have been closed for two days due to the presence of elephants.
Pendra | Correspondent: Nine schools located in several villages within the Marwahi area of Chhattisgarh’s Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district have been closed for two days due to the presence of elephants. Following reports of a herd of 62 elephants moving through the Nakka and Matiadanda forest ranges in the Marwahi forest division, the local District Education Officer (DEO) ordered the schools to remain closed on November 4 and 5 to ensure the safety of the children.
Acting on the DEO’s directive, local Block Education Officer Sanjay Verma issued a notice for the two-day closure of the schools.
In light of the elephants' movement, the Forest Department has issued an alert, urging local villagers to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to avoid attacks by the wild animals. Villagers have been advised not to provoke the elephants and to maintain a safe distance from them.
Meanwhile, a video has gone viral showing an individual provoking a herd of elephants in the Nakka forest, an incident that has alarmed forest officials. In the footage, the person approaches the herd and uses hand gestures, seemingly attempting to direct them back into the forest—an action that appears to have agitated the elephants.
Taking cognizance of the incident, the Forest Department has launched an investigation. A senior forest official stated that the individual will be identified based on the video, and appropriate legal action will be taken against him.
