Assam elephants died in two groups 1 km apart

The ‘freak’ lightning is being corroborated based on meteorological reports, the government says

The carcasses of the 18 elephants reportedly killed by lightning in central Assam’s Nagaon district on May 13 were found in two groups 1 km apart, an official statement said Saturday. The State government also said the “freak natural incident” was being corroborated based on meteorological reports while the samples collected by a team of experts after a post-mortem were being “further examined for microbiological and toxicological aspects” in the laboratory. According to the statement, the assistant manager of Topajuri Tea Estate had at 1:45 p.m. on May 13 informed the officials at the Kathiatoli Range of Nagaon Forest Division about four carcasses.