Jharkhand: 32 monkeys drown in irrigation well while quenching thirst in Chainpur forest
Jharkhand: As many as 32 wild monkeys allegedly drowned in an irrigation well in Jharkhand's Palamu district while trying to quench their thirst, a forest official said on Monday.
The incident took place in Sorath village, Panki block, and the bodies were discovered on Sunday, but officials have yet to determine the exact date of the incident.
"A total of 32 wild monkeys were found dead in an irrigation well in Sorath... the corpses were fished out," Medininagar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kumar Ashish stated.
The entire region is experiencing heatwave conditions, with temperatures hovering around 44-45 degrees Celsius.
"Sources of water in the area have almost dried up... wild animals are coming to villages to quench their thirst... these monkeys apparently drowned during their bid to quench their thirst," Ashish stated.
The well in which the monkeys died had plenty of water, he said, adding that an autopsy had been performed but the results had yet to be received.
He said three jackals died in a well a few days ago while searching for water in the Chainpur forest.
Last week, four people died from sunstroke in Jharkhand, and 1,326 others were hospitalised due to the sweltering heat in most of the eastern state.
All district hospitals and other medical facilities have been asked to reserve air-conditioned rooms and empty beds for heatstroke patients, officials said.
- With inputs from agencies
