An adult wild elephant which had been suffering from infection for the past few weeks, died in a forest in Nagrakata block of Jalpaiguri on Friday.

The elephant was initially noticed in Kherkata forest in the Dooars. It was limping because of an infection on the rear left foot. Then, foresters had darted and treated it.

“The animal, however, went missing for a couple of days. It was then located at Nathua forest near Bamandanga-Tondoo tea estate. Since then, it was there. Necessary treatment was provided to it but unfortunately, the infection spread and it died today,” said a forester.

A section of local residents, however, alleged that the forest department didn’t take appropriate steps to save the elephant. “The treatment was provided quite late. Or else, the elephant might have survived,” said Kishore Chhetri, a resident.

Leopard attack

A leopard mauled a school student at a tea estate in Alipurduar district on Friday. Jiban Oraon, a Class XII student, was on his way to school when the incident happened.