ECI team to visit Bengal to review SIR procedures: Official

Vartha Bharati | 03-11-2025 | 21:10:00 IST

Kolkata (PTI): A team from the Election Commission of India (ECI) is likely to visit West Bengal from November 5 to 8 to review the rollout of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a senior official said on Monday.

The team, led by ECI Principal Secretary SB Joshi and Deputy Secretary Abhinav Agarwal, is likely to inspect the districts of Cooch Behar, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, he said.

"During the visit, they will evaluate how Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and Returning Officers (ROs) are performing their duties, and may interact with political representatives. Officials of the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office will also be present during the inspection," the official told PTI.

The ECI team's visit is aimed at ensuring smooth, transparent, and secure implementation of the SIR programme ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, he added.

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Watch: Tusker rescued from 20-foot well in Sullia after 16-hour operation

13-04-2026 ¦ 13-04-2026 IST

Courtesy: X/ @harishupadhya

Mangaluru (PTI): A lone tusker that had fallen into an abandoned 20-foot-deep well in Dakshina Kannada district was successfully rescued after forest officials constructed an earthen ramp, allowing the animal to walk out safely, officials said.

The incident occurred when the elephant, aged about 30 years and roaming in the forested Sampaje range of Sullia taluk in the Western Ghats, accidentally fell into the well in the early hours of Monday and was rescued at around 4 pm the same day, they said.

Initially, when the operation began, officials suspected it was a calf. But midway through the rescue, as it made its way out, they realised it was actually an elephant.

The animal remained trapped inside the well for nearly 16 hours before being rescued, officials added.

Huge relief, the elephant is out of the well.

The animal has moved into nearby plantations instead of heading back to the forest. Forest teams remain on high alert.#ElephantRescue #Karnataka https://t.co/ZCLU6COXTv pic.twitter.com/begPVx1oki

— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) April 13, 2026

According to officials, acting swiftly, the Karnataka Forest Department created a gradual ramp from the bottom of the well to ground level using earth-moving equipment, ensuring a safe exit path for the animal.

After spending about 16 hours inside the well, the elephant walked out safely using the ramp and disappeared into the nearby forest, officials said.

A wild elephant trapped in a well in Peraje, Sullia. Rescue underway. Forest officials on-site for hours, digging to bring the animal out safely. Prayers for the gentle giant. #elephants #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/GZ7yp7pA8q

— Harish Upadhya (@harishupadhya) April 13, 2026

Forest department officials told PTI that the tusker did not sustain any injuries despite the fall and remained healthy and alert throughout the operation.

They monitored the animal as it climbed the ramp and returned to its natural habitat.

The timely intervention prevented any harm to the elephant and highlighted the swift response of the forest team in wildlife rescue operations in the Western Ghats region, which is known for human-elephant conflict incidents.