The deadly conflict between humans and elephants in Assam has claimed two more lives within a span of 24 hours, casting a grim shadow over the ongoing paddy harvesting season. The incidents, occurring in separate districts, underscore the escalating crisis as elephants stray into human settlements in search of food.
Harvest Season Turns Deadly in Tamulpur
In a tragic incident on Sunday night, Bodosa Basumatary (24) from Kuhipar village in Tamulpur district was trampled to death. The young man was attempting to drive away a lone elephant that had become separated from its herd. According to villagers, Basumatary ventured too close to the animal in his effort to protect the area.
Forest department officials rushed him to the Patkijuli NLC Church Medical facility, but he was declared dead upon arrival. This event has sent shockwaves through the local community, which is already on high alert due to increased elephant movement during the harvest period.
Morning Attack Claims Life in Tinsukia
In a separate and equally tragic event on Monday morning, Ajoy Bhumij (52) was killed in Tokowoni village, located in the Doomdooma area of Tinsukia district. Bhumij was attacked by an elephant when he stepped into his backyard garden. Police later recovered his body and sent it for a post-mortem examination.
Authorities have confirmed that Bhumij's family—his wife and three children—will receive a compensation of Rs 4 lakh as per the state government's policy for victims of human-elephant conflict.
Root Causes and Official Response
Forest officials believe the elephants involved in both fatal encounters had strayed from herds residing in reserve forests. One of the identified areas is the Duarmara forest, part of the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, a critical corridor for the movement of Asian elephants.
The primary drivers of these conflicts are identified as shrinking forest cover and acute food scarcity within elephant habitats. These factors are forcing the animals to venture into villages and agricultural lands, leading to increasingly frequent and deadly encounters.
However, the incidents have also sparked criticism from local residents. Villagers have alleged significant delays in the forest department's response, claiming that officials arrived hours after being alerted about the presence of the elephants. This perceived lack of prompt action has fueled anger and fear among communities living on the front lines of this conflict.
The back-to-back fatalities during the peak harvest season highlight the urgent need for more effective mitigation strategies and faster response mechanisms to prevent further loss of life in Assam's ongoing struggle with human-elephant conflict.
