Kishanganj/Patna: A herd of wild elephants damaged standing crops in several villages under Dighalbank block of Kishanganj district near the India-Nepal border late on Saturday night.
According to local residents, around 10 to 12 elephants entered villages including Aamdangi, Dhantola and Gandharvadanga, trampling maize, banana and vegetable crops.
Villagers said the animals remained in the area for several hours despite attempts to drive them away using noise and torches.
Villagers report fear and recurring losses
Residents said the repeated movement of elephant herds into border villages has become an annual concern, particularly during the crop harvesting season.
“Late at night, around 10 to 12 elephants entered the village. Even after raising alarms and lighting torches, the elephants stayed for a long time. Villagers remained awake throughout the night due to fear,” a local resident said.
Farmers in the affected villages said the crop damage has caused significant financial losses and added that many residents now fear stepping out at night.
Demand for compensation and long-term solutions
Affected farmers have urged the forest department and district administration to ensure compensation for crop losses and take steps to prevent elephants from entering populated areas.
Residents said incidents involving elephant movement have increased in recent years across border areas, leading to growing concern among local communities.
Forest department monitoring situation
Forest department officials said teams have been deployed in the area and monitoring efforts are going on.
Pankaj Kumar, a forest department official, said authorities are working to ensure villagers’ safety and that compensation would be provided to eligible farmers after assessment.
Officials also visited the affected locations to review the situation.
Existing measures seen as insufficient
The forest department has introduced measures such as electric fencing, sensor wires and public announcement systems in parts of the border region to reduce human-elephant conflict.
However, residents said these measures have not been sufficient, as elephant herds continue to enter villages and damage crops during the cultivation season.
