Kathmandu, Jan. 25 -- Conservationists and animal lovers have expressed concerns after a rhino was found dead Sunday in a freshly dug roadside ditch along the Bharatpur-Gondrang road section in Chitwan district.

The ditch was dug for laying a drainage system, according to officials.

The Chitwan National Park has said the rhino died due to grave negligence by the Road Division Office, Bharatpur.

"I call this death a murder because the innocent animal died due to the sheer negligence of roads officials," said Rampreet Yadav, former chief conservation officer of Chitwan National Park.

Park officials said the rhino was around 11 years old male. Officials learnt about the death at around 3 pm on Sunday. Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, information of...