I Assam
In a heartbreaking incident, four people, including two young children, lost their lives when they were trampled by wild elephants in Lalo Basti near Barmanthi, under the Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district. The victims have been identified as Rebecca Kerketa (28), Kanya Tiria (50), and two young children from the same family. The tragic incident occurred in the Bormanthi village, Bokajan, around 3 pm.
The family was returning to their house from their Citronella field when they encountered a herd of two elephants on their path. The elephants charged at them, resulting in a devastating trampling. Following the incident, the police and forest personnel reached the scene and recovered the bodies of the four victims. The bodies of the victims have been sent for postmortem examination at Diphu Medical College and Hospital. This tragic incident has sent shockwaves across Karbi Anglong district. Unfortunately, it's not the first time such an incident has occurred. In the past, similar encounters between humans and wild elephants have resulted in casualties.
The increasing human-elephant conflict in the region is often linked to massive deforestation, which forces elephant herds to venture into human habitats in search of food. Tragically, both humans and elephants have suffered in this conflict. Several elephants have lost their lives due to accidents on railway tracks, electrocution, and conflicts with humans. Efforts have been made to address this issue, such as relocating a village to create a safe corridor for elephants.
In Karbi Anglong, the Ram Terang village was relocated to facilitate the movement of elephants between the Nambar-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary and Karbi Anglong forest, eventually connecting to Kaziranga National Park. This step was carried out in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India, the forest department, and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council. The tragic incident shows as a reminder of the need for conservation efforts and measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the region.
