Silchar, Dec. 18: Wild elephants last night raided villages near the Badshahi reserve forest under Patherkandi block of Karimganj district, killing one person and seriously injuring another. The victim has been identified as Ram Suryabongshi of Longai tea estate.
Authorities there fear that the man-elephant conflict may worsen, with villagers preparing to attack the tuskers. The herd also damaged cottages and crops in the area.
The rampaging elephants made their way into the Longai estate belonging to the Assam Tea Corporation, bringing down 11 cottages. Rogue elephants destroyed over 70 huts belonging to tea labourers over the past few weeks, sources said. The affected areas include Longai and Medley tea estates as well as villages in the Loairpua area.
Patherkandi legislator Monilal Goala has asked the district administration to arrange for distribution of relief among the affected people. He has also asked the authorities to prevent elephant depredation in the area.