Bagaha/Patna: A herd of more than six elephants, believed to have strayed from Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, created panic near the SSB camp close to Valmiki Ashram in West Champaran’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) late Friday, damaging a security outpost and pulling down tarpaulin sheets before moving back towards the forest along the Sonha river, officials and locals said.
Residents reported the herd—also comprising two calves—was sighted around Valmiki Ashram and nearby areas, sparking fear among villagers and security personnel. Ranger Amit Kumar said the elephants were seen in the Kaleshwar, Sonha river, and Valmiki Ashram zones, and were driven towards the forest by VTR staff using firecrackers and noise deterrents. The herd had reportedly been observed heading back towards Nepal a couple of days earlier, but returned on Friday night.
Local resident Mangal Singh said the elephants were likely roaming in search of food and have been active across the Ashram area, heightening anxiety among those living near the forest edge. Forest officials believe the current movement is linked to seasonal foraging, with the cross-border herd entering the Valmikinagar forest tract and occasionally causing damage near human habitations and security installations.
No injuries were reported, but the incident underscores recurring human–elephant conflict along the Indo–Nepal border landscapes, where wildlife corridors connect protected areas such as VTR and Chitwan. Authorities advised residents to avoid night movement near the riverine stretch, secure food waste, and promptly alert forest teams upon sightings to enable safe driving of herds back into the core forest.
