PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Haldwani
With the human-wildlife conflict escalating in the Terai region, two people were killed being trampled upon by a wild elephant in the Shah Pathani Khatta area under Lalkuan Kotwali limits late Tuesday night. The attack has caused panic in the area as local people fear more such attacks in the coming days.
According to the forest department officials, the incident occurred under the Tanda range of the Terai Central Forest Division and the duo died on the spot. Forest and police teams rushed to the scene and sent the bodies for post-mortem. One of the deceased has been identified as Bandho Prajapati (75), a native of Jharkhand, who worked as a watchman in nearby agricultural fields. The second victim has remained unidentified till the time of sending this report, though he is believed to have been mentally unstable.
Senior officials, including the divisional forest officer Umesh Chandra Tiwari, circle officer Amit Saini, sub-divisional forest officer Shashi Dev, station house officer Brajmohan Singh Rana and forest range officer Roopnarayan Gautam, reached the spot and initiated an investigation.
Tiwari later stated that preliminary information suggests both deaths were related to elephant attack. “The exact cause will be confirmed after the post-mortem report is received,” he said and assured financial assistance to the affected families as per government norms.
The tehsildar, Ishwari Singh Bhima stated that a report would be forwarded to the higher authorities. “Compensation will be disbursed in accordance with the Forest department guidelines,” he added.
Meanwhile, the forest officials have heightened vigilance in the surrounding areas and advised residents to avoid venturing alone near forest fringes. Special teams have been deployed to monitor elephant movement round the clock.
