Mother, son killed in wild elephant attack at tea garden in Assam’s Tinsukia

A mother and her son were killed after a herd of wild elephants attacked their home at a tea garden in Assam’s Tinsukia district late on Friday night, March 6, officials said.

The incident occurred at the Brahmajan tea garden in Pengree area under the Doomdooma Forest Division when a herd of elephants entered the labour lines and created panic among residents.

According to reports, the elephants attacked the house of tea garden workers Budhan Rautia (50) and his mother Anita Rautia (70). Both were trampled to death inside their home.

The incident reportedly took place around midnight when the herd strayed into the tea garden area and began damaging houses and property.

Local residents said the elephants had been moving through the region for several days, triggering fear among villagers and tea garden workers.

The deaths have sparked anger among locals, who alleged that repeated complaints about elephant movement in the area were not addressed adequately.

Residents claimed that human–elephant conflict has been increasing in several areas under the Khatangpani forest range in Pengree under the Doomdooma Forest Division.

They alleged that despite frequent elephant incursions, the forest department has failed to take effective measures to prevent such incidents.

Officials from the forest department later reached the spot and began an inquiry into the incident.

Human–elephant conflict remains a serious concern in many parts of Assam, particularly in tea garden and forest fringe areas where elephant corridors intersect with human settlements.