A file image of an elephant herd in a village
Palasbari, Nov 10: A 62-year-old woman sustained serious injuries after she was attacked by a wild elephant at Udaypur village under the Rani forest range in Palasbari LAC of Kamrup district, on the outskirts of Guwahati, in the early hours of Sunday. The incident triggered fresh panic among residents who have been living under the constant threat of elephant attacks.
The injured woman, identified as Ratna Kakati, a resident of Udaypur village, had stepped out for a morning walk when the incident occurred. She reportedly sustained injuries to both her hands in the attack and narrowly escaped death.
According to reports, a herd of wild elephants was returning towards the reserve forest after raiding paddy fields in nearby agricultural areas. During this time, an elephant that had fallen considerably behind the herd suddenly attacked Kakati while she was walking along the road.
A youth, identified as Srikanta Boro, who was accompanying her, also had a narrow escape by taking shelter beneath a roadside culvert to save himself from the charging elephant.
The incident has once again brought the alarming human-elephant conflict in Rani to the forefront, with residents expressing deep resentment over what they described as the continued failure of the government, the Forest Department and successive as well as the present elected representatives to find a lasting solution to the problem.
For years, wild elephant herds have been wreaking havoc in the region, claiming human lives, destroying houses and damaging agricultural fields, thereby threatening the livelihoods and safety of villagers. Residents said the conflict has been steadily intensifying, while no effective and permanent measures have been taken to address the growing crisis.
According to local residents, nearly 40 wild elephants are currently roaming in the Rani area, posing a constant threat to people living in villages situated close to forest areas. The recurring movement of elephant herds into human habitations, particularly during the paddy harvesting season, has made life increasingly difficult for villagers.
Expressing anguish over the situation, a local resident told The Assam Tribune, “How are we supposed to survive under such circumstances? The elephant herds are destroying everything, from our lives and properties to the agricultural fields that are our only source of livelihood. We depend entirely on farming, but repeated elephant raids are ruining our crops and leaving us helpless. We are living in constant fear for our lives and livelihood.”
Residents also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the functioning of the Forest Department, alleging that its response to recurring elephant-related incidents has been inadequate. They pointed out that the Nalapara Forest Beat Office is located only a short distance from the site of Sunday’s attack, yet no forest personnel reportedly arrived at the spot to assess the situation.
The villagers have urged the government and the Forest department to move beyond temporary measures and implement concrete, long-term strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflict, protect vulnerable settlements and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of people in the region.