Kishanganj/Patna: An elderly man died and a child was injured after two wild elephants entered Gangi village in Bihar’s Kishanganj district on Wednesday morning and attacked people as they attempted to flee.
The incident occurred under the jurisdiction of Bahadurganj police station. According to villagers, the elephants, believed to have strayed from forests in Nepal, entered agricultural fields and trampled standing paddy crops, triggering panic in the area.
As residents tried to escape, two people were reportedly caught by the elephants and seriously injured.
Elderly Man Dies, Child Referred To Siliguri
The injured were taken by their families to the Bahadurganj Primary Health Centre for initial treatment. Both were subsequently referred to a higher-level medical facility because of the severity of their injuries.
During the process, Mofiz Alam, an elderly resident of Altabari, died. The injured child, who belongs to Darnia village, was referred to Siliguri for further treatment.
The incident has left the deceased man’s family in mourning.
Forest Department Tracks Elephants
Following the incident, the sub-divisional police officer, personnel from Bahadurganj police station and a Forest Department team reached the area to manage the situation and protect residents.
Forest officials Pankaj Kumar and Mukesh Kumar urged villagers to maintain a safe distance from the elephants. Officials said the animals’ movements were being monitored and that the crowd had been cleared from the affected area.
Mukesh Kumar said the elephants had caused similar damage in the Dhantola area of Dighalbank on Tuesday, prompting the Forest Department to remain on high alert.
“The Forest Department team is tracking the elephants and making efforts to guide them safely back towards the forest. Villagers have been advised to remain vigilant,” he said.
Civic Body Chairman Calls For Clear Evacuation Plan
Amid concerns over the recurring movement of elephants into populated areas, the chairman of Bahadurganj Nagar Panchayat has urged the administration to prepare a detailed plan to guide the animals safely away from human settlements.
He called for officials to assess the proposed route carefully, taking into account nearby villages, roads and residential areas, and to establish arrangements for evacuating residents and dispersing crowds in coordination with the police, panchayat representatives and district administration.
The chairman also called for an immediate decision on whether dart guns could be used to tranquilise the elephants. He said any such measure should be considered only if trained experts deemed it appropriate in light of conditions on the ground.
He further urged the administration to obtain written instructions from senior Forest Department officials, with clear guidance on the direction in which the elephants should be moved and the steps needed to protect settlements along the route.
He called for immediate and concrete action to prevent further casualties and damage.
