Hazaribagh: The body of NTPC's additional general manager Subhash Prasad Gupta’s wife was found from a well in Hazaribagh after she went missing on Wednesday.

Investigation revealed that Ranjeeta Gupta, 39, was the victim of an accident during her morning walk where she fell into the well.

Sources said the family lives in a rented house on Lake Road. Ranjeeta was in the habit of going on a morning walk every day to the Hazaribagh Lake.

On Wednesday, when she didn’t return, her husband Subhash went out in search of her. But not finding her anywhere, he rushed to Lohsigna outpost informing officials about his missing wife and requesting them to launch a search. But all efforts to find her failed.

On Thursday evening, relatives spotted flowers in a carrybag near a well at Hazaribagh Lake. They suspected that Ranjeeta might have fallen into the well as it did not have a boundary wall. A search was started in the well and soon her dead body was fished out.

Relatives said she may have slipped and fallen into the well while trying to cross the road in a hurried manner.

Police officials said this was a tragic incident and they have registered a case of unnatural death.

“We have handed over the body to relatives after the post mortem,” they added.

(Vishvendu Jaipuriar)

Latehar tribal families receive ducklings under income scheme

A duckling prior to being owned by a tribal family at Balumath on Thursday The Telegraph picture

Daltonganj: The Jharkhand government is promoting duck farming among tribals to augment their income under its scheme called Mukh Mantri Pashu Dhan Vikas Yojna said sources.

A total of 37 tribal families from the villages of Dhadhu, Basiya and Oley Paath under the Balumath block in Latehar district were given 15 ducklings each under the Mukh Mantri Pashu Dhan Vikas Yojna said Dr Suryavansh Thakur, the Balumath block animal husbandry officer.

A total of 555 ducklings were distributed among the 37 tribal families at the rate of 15 ducklings each family.

Among the 15 ducklings thirteen are females and two are males.

The ducklings are 15 days old and in good health. It takes 45 to 60 days to become adult said the veterinarian Thakur.

The breed of the duckling is popular Indian Runner which has a long survival and adaptability traits.

Mukh Mantri Pashu Dhan Vikas Yojna is a 90 percent subsidised income generating scheme where a beneficiary is to pool in his or her 10 per cent of money.

The 15 ducklings cost Rs 1,670 which has 90 per cent subsidy worth Rs 1,503 and a beneficiary pools in his 167 rupees as his 10 per cent contribution said the veterinarian Thakur.

Sources said the tribal are encouraged to have ducks which, if reared properly, can provide Rs 200 a week to a tribal family.

Vetenarian Thakur said the ducks are vulnerable to bacterial infection and hence 37 tribal families who have been given 15 ducklings each have been advised to have a neat and clean space for the ducklings and the ducks.

As ducks are a social animal it is a curse if they are forced to live single and hence ducks are always given in a dozen or so that ensures their survival.

(Our correspondent)