GUWAHATI, Dec 20: Residents of various villages and workers of tea estates in Dhekiajuli are passing sleepless nights with a herd of wild elephants creating havoc in the locality. The elephant herd, villagers said, entered villages and tea gardens leading to a violent conflict with the people.
The pachyderms brought down houses besides trampling and devouring paddy crops.
A herd of more than 50 wild elephants entered Borpukhuri village and Dhirai Tea Estate near Dhekiajuli as villagers and garden workers sought the help of forest guards to drive the elephant herd back into the Sonai-Rupai wildlife sanctuary from which it had strayed into villages and tea gardens.
“The elephant herd entered villages and tea gardens after straying out of the Sonai Rupai sanctuary. The elephants have brought down several houses besides devouring crops. The herd has now entered Dhirai tea estate,” a local resident said, adding that forest officials are trying to push the herd back into the forest.
“We are passing sleepless nights as the elephants have strayed into our villages and tea estates. We feel very insecure,” another villager told News Live.
