Sambalpur, Oct. 23: Two female elephants died after coming in contact with an electric wire at Junani village in the Ambabhana block under the Bargarh forest division, around 120km from here.

Today morning, local villagers spotted the carcasses and informed forest officials, who rushed to the spot. "The elephants came in contact with an electric wire, which some unidentified people had laid to kill wild boar, and died," said Hirakud Wildlife Division's forest officer Sudeep Nayak.

He said: "A team has been sent to the spot to inquire into the matter. I will also visit this spot after I reach Sambalpur."

Nayak also said a herd of elephants had been moving in that area for the past few days.

A local villager said a herd of around 22 elephants had been moving in their locality for the past one month. The herd has also damaged crops at Dungri, Naunsara, Jarimuli, Dongapali Junani, Khola, Tamdei, Lepher villages in the area. "The jumbos' carcases were spotted near a small pond. The elephants might have come in contact with the wire while going to the pond to drink water," said a villager.

Roadblock

BJD activists today staged a roadblock at Bonai demanding inquiry into the murder of a local zilla parishad member.

Last night, Dasarath Oram, the zilla parishad member, went to take part in Dussehra celebrations at Babunuagaon where unknown assailants attacked him. Later, local residents found his body near Narendrapur.

"We found cut marks on his neck, left hand and shoulder. The injuries seem to be caused by a sharp weapon," said assistant sub-inspector R. Panigrahi.

Additional reporting by Rajesh Mohanty