Two people lost their lives in elephant attacks in Assam on Tuesday and Wednesday, in separate incidents in Jorhat and Numaligarh districts. The twin tragedies have raised fresh concerns about the growing human-elephant conflict across the state.
Man Killed in Jorhat During Elephant Attack
The first of the two elephant attacks in Assam occurred on Tuesday night in Titabor, Jorhat district.
A 42-year-old man, identified as Bhabesh Bora, was trampled by a wild elephant while returning home from a nearby market. Witnesses said the animal suddenly appeared near the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, an area known for frequent elephant movement.
Locals rushed to help, but Bora succumbed to his injuries on the spot.
Forest officials and police later retrieved his body for post-mortem.
“We believe the elephant entered the village in search of food. This is not an isolated case,” said a Jorhat forest officer, speaking to Northeast Live TV.
Authorities have deployed rapid response teams to track the elephant and prevent further incidents.
Woman Dies in Numaligarh After Elephant Attack
In a separate elephant attack in Assam, a 35-year-old woman named Anita Hazarika was trampled to death on Wednesday morning near Numaligarh in Golaghat district.
She had gone to collect firewood when a herd of elephants appeared suddenly from nearby forest cover.
Local residents discovered her body and informed forest officials.
The Numaligarh Forest Range Office has confirmed compensation for the victim’s family under the Human-Elephant Conflict Relief Scheme.
District Forest Officer P. Saikia said the department is strengthening community alert systems.
“We’ve issued warnings to residents and are working with tea garden authorities to install early-warning sirens,” Saikia stated.
Elephant Attacks in Assam: A Growing Concern
Experts warn that elephant attacks in Assam are increasing every year due to shrinking forest habitats.
According to the 2022 elephant census, the state is home to more than 5,700 wild elephants. As deforestation and tea estate expansion continue, elephants are venturing closer to human settlements.
A WWF India report revealed that Assam recorded 90 human deaths from elephant attacks in 2023, the highest in the country. Wildlife activist Dr. Parag Phukan from Jorhat said the pattern is worrying.
“Human expansion into elephant corridors is driving these encounters. Without restoring forest cover, the attacks will continue,” he said.
Forest Department Steps Up Vigilance
Following the two fatalities, the Assam Forest Department has launched a coordinated operation in both districts.
Officials are using drone surveillance and night patrols to monitor elephant movement. Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary has assured financial aid for the victims’ families and called for immediate measures to restore elephant corridors.
Patowary emphasized that coexistence must be the goal.
“We must protect both people and elephants through technology and awareness,” he stated in a press release.
Preventing Future Elephant Attacks in Assam
Wildlife NGOs are now partnering with local tea estates and communities to create safer environments. The Assam Elephant Foundation is introducing solar fencing and AI-based motion sensors to alert residents when elephants approach.
Conservation biologist Dr. Bibhuti Lahkar, speaking to Down To Earth, urged the creation of natural corridors linking fragmented habitats.
“Elephants follow traditional routes. If we block them, they enter villages. Restoring these routes will save both lives and animals,” he said.
Meanwhile, forest officers are advising villagers to avoid forested areas during dusk and dawn, the peak movement hours for elephant herds.
The Way Forward
The recent elephant attacks in Assam underscore the urgent need for sustainable coexistence strategies.
The state government is developing an elephant tracking network that will alert nearby communities when herds move close to settlements.
Officials hope that combining community awareness, technology, and habitat protection will reduce future tragedies.
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