Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister suspends forest officials over elephant deaths in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve

• Chief Minister Mohan Yadav suspended Forest Conservator and BTR Field Director Gaurav Chaudhary for not returning from leave and keeping his mobile phone switched off despite being informed of the situation.
• Assistant Forest Conservator and Deputy Forest Officer Fateh Singh Ninama was suspended for not providing “able leadership” and leaving most of the action to his subordinates.
• Four elephants of a herd of 13 were found dead inside the reserve on October 29.
• Preliminary report suggests no use of pesticide on the crops or third-party involvement.
• Financial assistance to the families of the two men killed by wild elephants has been hiked from ₹8 lakh to ₹25 lakh.
• A task force will be constituted to make a long-term plan for the permanent management of elephant herds in the State.