Mayurbhanj: Residents of Morada and Rasagobindapur blocks in Mayurbhanj district are facing sleepless nights as a herd of elephants continues to wreak havoc in the region, unleashing a reign of terror for the past few days. The situation turned fatal recently when a resident of Jualibhanga panchayat under the Betanati Range fell victim to the aggression of two tuskers.
The deceased, identified as Puin Dehuri, was tragically trampled to death while he was sleeping in a government building known as ‘Mamata Gruha’. Dehuri had sought refuge in the building as his own house was undergoing repairs. The elephants, two in number, reportedly strayed into the house and attacked Dehuri, leading to his untimely demise. In addition to the loss of life, the elephants caused extensive damage to the village by demolishing three houses in the early hours of Friday.
Prior to this tragic incident, the elephants had also vandalized the furniture of Jyotsna Bhakta, a resident of Chhatana village, on Thursday evening. Fortunately, Bhakta managed to escape unharmed. Moreover, the wild elephants raided the houses of Sundar Dehuri, Bimba Dehuri, and Bishnu Dehuri, devouring rice stored by the residents. They further went on a rampage, destroying crops in their path.
Unfortunately, incidents of man-elephant conflicts have become a regular occurrence in these villages, posing a grave threat to the safety and livelihoods of the residents. Despite the escalating situation, villagers claim they have not received any alert orders from the Betanati Forest officials.
The persistence of such conflicts underscores the urgent need for effective measures to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in the region. Authorities must prioritize the safety of residents while implementing strategies to prevent such tragic incidents in the future. Additionally, raising awareness among the local communities about elephant behavior and adopting sustainable practices for coexistence with wildlife are crucial steps toward resolving this pressing issue.
