Following the death of an elephant due to a bomb blast, Angul district police intensified their crackdown on illegal explosives on Sunday. Acting swiftly, authorities raided a grocery shop in Mahidharpur village under Banarpal police limits and seized around 70 kilograms of live bombs and other explosive materials. One person has been arrested in connection with the seizure and is currently being interrogated.

The operation is part of a larger effort to curb the illegal storage and use of explosives, particularly those linked to wildlife crimes. Police are investigating the source of the explosives and any potential connections to poaching activities.

The elephant, which had been critically injured after allegedly consuming an explosive, died on Friday morning while undergoing treatment at the Elephant Rescue Centre in Kapilash, Dhenkanal. The animal was initially found in the Bantala forest area under the Angul forest division, suffering from severe mouth injuries likely caused by a trap set by poachers. Senior veterinarians and forest officials have confirmed that the blast had caused deep internal wounds, and investigations are ongoing to determine the exact circumstances.