CHITWAN: A rhinoceros died after it fell into a trench created during the construction of a roadway near the Tikauli forest along the east-west highway in the district.

Information officer at the Chitwan National Park (CNP) Ganesh Prasad Tiwari informed that the rhino was found dead near Tikauli forest at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon.

After the female pachyderm of about 10 years was found dead, a technical team was sent to the accident site from CNP.

In the current fiscal year alone, deaths of 21 rhinoceros have been recorded. Among them, two were killed by the poachers and others with natural causes.