Assam: Elephant herd wreaks havoc in Baksa's Dihira, homes damaged, livestock killed

Tension gripped the Dihira area along the India-Bhutan border in Assam’s Baksa district as a herd of wild elephants wreaked havoc late last night. The rampaging herd damaged multiple houses, killed livestock, and destroyed food supplies, reigniting concerns over recurring human-elephant conflict in the region.

According to sources, a group of wild elephants descended from the nearby forested hills into the residential locality of Dihira in search of food. The herd targeted the residence of Mohan Kerketta, demolishing three of his houses. The elephants also killed a pet goat and ravaged essential food stores, including paddy and rice, as well as his betel nut and banana plantations.

The recurring incursions by wild elephants have left residents of Dihira, Dumuni, and Arnibil living in constant fear. Locals allege that despite repeated incidents, the forest department has failed to implement any effective measures to mitigate the growing threat. Sleepless nights have become a norm as villagers remain on high alert to safeguard lives and property.

In light of the escalating situation, the Dumuni Regional Adivasi Students’ Union has issued a formal plea for immediate action by the Baksa District Forest Department. The organization emphasized the urgency of deploying adequate preventive strategies to protect both human settlements and wildlife.

Residents demand that the authorities take prompt and concrete steps to address the issue before the situation spirals further out of control.