Champa, an old female elephant, had been undergoing veterinary treatment for the last three days in the Bilaspur railway area of Chhatisgarh, but when the vet doctors took out her saline drip and stopped giving her injections, the locals took upon themselves to sit near her and chant bhajans, as the pachyderm is waiting to take her last breath.
The local Sai Bhajan mandali and Sanjay Bhajan mandali have begun prayers near the elephant, with money and coconuts being offered along with flowers.
Three days ago, Champa suddenly collapsed. Vets were called in. They began giving her injections and put her on saline drip, but as the pachyderm lay listless, the vets gave up all hopes. The last saline drip was removed on Sunday afternoon.
Local priests led by councilors Ramarao and Srinivas Rao then brought in bhajan mandalis to sit near the elephant and chant bhajans.
The vets say Champa may last only for the next 24 to 72 hours.
