Panic has gripped villages in Chhattisgarh's Korba district after two women were killed in separate attacks by wild elephants within a span of 24 hours. The tragic incidents occurred in the Katghora forest division, highlighting the escalating human-elephant conflict in the region.
Details of the Tragic Incidents
The first victim was identified as 60-year-old Sundari Majhawar. The attack took place in the early hours of Tuesday in the Chaitma forest range. Sundari and her husband, Tikesh Ram Majhawar, were sleeping in the porch of their house when a lone tusker entered the settlement around 3 am.
Hearing the elephant's trumpeting, Tikesh hid under a cot for safety. Unfortunately, Sundari attempted to run away. The elephant chased her, attacked, and killed her. Tikesh managed to escape and alert other villagers, who later gathered to try and drive the elephant away.
Barely hours later, a second tragedy struck. On Wednesday, 36-year-old Meena Bai was trampled to death near Binjhara village in Katghora. According to forest officials, she had stepped out of her house and was walking towards her field when a wild elephant suddenly appeared and attacked her. She died on the spot.
Villagers' Fear and Official Response
The back-to-back fatalities have triggered intense fear among local residents. Villagers report that elephant herds and lone tuskers are not just a threat to human life but are also causing significant damage to homes, stored grain, and standing crops.
"People are scared to step out at night. Many families no longer sleep in courtyards or fields," a resident said, voicing the community's distress. The villagers have demanded more active night patrolling, the implementation of early-warning systems, and a sustainable, long-term solution to the recurring conflict.
In response, forest authorities have intensified patrolling in the affected pockets to track elephant movement. Teams have been instructed to keep villagers informed and alert. Officials have also appealed to the public to follow safety guidelines, which include:
- Avoiding going alone into forests or fields after dark.
- Staying in groups when moving in vulnerable areas.
- Immediately alerting the forest department if elephants are sighted near human settlements.
Seeking a Lasting Solution
Forest staff visited the villages after the incidents, met the grieving families, and reviewed the ground situation. While immediate measures are in place, the recurring nature of these conflicts underscores the need for a comprehensive strategy. The community's call for robust early-warning systems and effective night patrols points to the urgent requirement for proactive measures to prevent further loss of life and property in the region.
