Guwahati: Tension continues to grip the Dihira area along the India-Bhutan border in Assam’s Baksa district following a devastating nocturnal rampage by a herd of wild elephants. Late last night, the colossal creatures wreaked havoc, damaging multiple homes, decimating livestock, and obliterating crucial food supplies, pushing the persistent human-elephant conflict back into the spotlight and leaving villagers in a state of profound distress.
Sources close to the incident revealed that a sizable group of wild elephants descended from the adjacent forested hills, making their way into the residential pockets of Dihira in their relentless quest for sustenance. The herd particularly targeted the abode of Mohan Kerketta, where they systematically demolished three of his houses. The destructive spree also claimed the life of his pet goat and thoroughly ravaged vital food reserves, including precious paddy and rice stocks, alongside his betel nut and banana plantations, leaving him with significant losses.
The relentless incursions by these magnificent yet menacing wild elephants have cast a long shadow of fear over the lives of residents in Dihira, Dumuni, and Arnibil, who now live in a perpetual state of anxiety. Villagers lament that despite a string of such harrowing incidents, the local forest department has, to date, failed to implement any tangible or effective measures to curb this escalating threat. Consequently, sleepless nights have become an unwelcome norm, as villagers remain perpetually vigilant, striving to protect their lives and meagre possessions from the marauding herds.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the Dumuni Regional Adivasi Students’ Union has formally appealed to the Baksa District Forest Department, urging immediate and decisive intervention. The organization underscored the critical need for the deployment of robust and comprehensive preventive strategies to safeguard both human settlements and the wild elephants themselves, emphasizing a holistic approach to conservation and conflict mitigation.
The beleaguered residents are now vociferously demanding that the authorities take prompt, concrete, and impactful steps to address this pressing issue without further delay. They stress the imperative of swift action before the volatile situation spirals completely out of control, threatening lives and livelihoods on an even larger scale.
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