Contrary to the popular belief that the incidents of man-elephant conflict would come down after the harvesting period, the wild elephant menace has been continuing across Goalpara district with a number of people losing lives from time to time.
With the killing of one more woman in wild jumbo attack on Saturday, the death toll in the district has risen to eight this year.
As per information, in the wee hours of Saturday at Phoolguri village near Sarapara area under the Matia Police Station of the district, a woman was trampled to death while she was trying to escape from her house fearing wild elephant attack.
Sources said, “Tilottoma Nath, a 50-year-old widow, tried to leave her house when two wild jumbos had entered her village. In the process of running away, she came directly in front of a tusker which immediately killed her by trampling and thrashing.”
The locals suspected this to be the attack by a male elephant nick-named as ‘Laden’ which has already taken more than five lives. However, B Das, forest range officer of Rongjuli forest range, clearly denied this claim.
Forest officer Das said, “After receiving information about two elephants entering the village, we were on duty at Saturday night. About 1:50 am, one elephant broke the wall of the house of an unfortunate woman after which she made an attempt to escape. But she was caught and trampled to death. Her house was isolated in the area and was surrounded by forest.”
Das blamed illegal encroachment of forest areas and inciting of wild jumbos by people by shouting and crackers which have caused more damages.