According to preliminary information, a pack of stray dogs emerging from the forest entered the rescue center and attacked the deer. The deer, having sustained severe injuries from the dog bites, succumbed to their injuries on the morning of March 22. Following the incident, the Forest Department has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the entire matter.

According to information received on Sunday from Sarguja Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Abhishek Jogawat, the incident occurred late on the night of March 20, when a pack of stray dogs entered the rescue center premises via forest trails. The dogs attempted to prey upon the deer housed there, resulting in severe injuries to several animals. The injured deer received medical treatment; however, by Sunday morning, 15 of them had died.

According to DFO Abhishek Jogawat, there is no dedicated, standalone rescue center available within this specific forest division. Consequently, a section of Sanjay Park is utilized temporarily as a rescue center, where injured or distressed wild animals brought in from the forest area receive medical treatment and care.

Jogawat said that the deer had fully recovered and plans were already in place to release them back into the wild shortly.

According to the Divisional Forest Officer, post-mortem examinations were conducted on all the deceased deer in the presence of a wildlife veterinarian. In accordance with established protocols, the animals were also cremated following the post-mortem examinations.

Given the gravity of the incident, an inquiry committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO). The committee will investigate at what level security protocols failed and determine what measures must be implemented to prevent the recurrence of such incidents in the future.

Forest Department officials state that necessary administrative and security-related decisions will be taken following the receipt of the inquiry report, in order to ensure the safety of the wild animals housed in the rescue center.