Rampaging tusker kills four villagers in India

Asian elephant

A rampaging wild elephant has trampled four persons to death and seriously injured three others in Sitamarhi district.

Four persons-Md. Nizamuddin, 50, a resident of village Siswa, Bhola Rai (30) of village Indarwa, Chhattar Rai (37) of village Adhakhanni under Parihar police station and homeguard-cum-driver of Bajpatti police station in Sitamarhi district Hulas Rai (30) were trampled to death by a Nepalese elephant on Tuesday.

Two injured women-Lalita Devi and Sonam Kumari, are being treated at different hospitals. The police driver was trying to help villagers chase the pachyderm away from the agricultural fields.

Sitamarhi SP Hari Prasath S said on Wednesday, "Two persons have been crushed to death in Bajpatti and Parihar police station areas of the district. We have got reports that other person injured by the elephant has died. We are trying to confirm the identity of the person."

The SP said as per latest report, the wild elephant has entered adjoining Madhubani district and was roaming in Arer police station area there.

"Forest department teams and police teams following the elephant have also reached the place where the tusker is present now. They will try to tranquilize the animal," the SP said.

Meanwhile, Sitamarhi divisional forest officer Shashi Shekhar said the wild elephant seemed to have strayed to Sitamarhi on Tuesday morning from forests of Nepal.

"Once the elephant entered Indian side and started moving across agricultural fields, villagers started chasing it. It entered deep inside the district and is now in an agitated state. Wild elephants usually take the same route while going back to their native place if they stray, and the villagers are not allowing it to do so," Shekhar said.

The DFO said the forest department and police teams followed the elephant till the early hours on Wednesday, and also tried to dissuade villagers from chasing it further, but to no avail.

"A team of forest officials with tranquilizer gun has arrived from Patna. We have also arranged for a heavy-lift crane as the elephant is around 13 feet in height and weighs between 2,000 to 3,000 kg. We are positive about bringing the rampage to an end today. We will either chase it back towards Nepal or trap or tranquilize it," the DFO added.

Seeing the agitated state of the elephant, the district administration in Madhubani has appealed to the people to stay away from elephant and not try to shoo it away by means of drums, crackers or organised chases.