Gohpur, Assam – Residents of Dipora, Barua Field, and Daspara village in Gohpur are grappling with nightly incursions by a herd of wild elephants, causing extensive damage and hardship. The herd, numbering between 20 to 25 elephants from Kaziranga’s sixth addition, has been raiding homes, consuming stored food supplies, and destroying crops, leaving the impoverished villagers in distress.
Despite the worsening situation, the forest department has yet to take decisive action, frustrating the affected communities. Villagers report sleepless nights as they try to protect their properties from the relentless elephant attacks. Several homes have been destroyed, and farmlands ravaged by the rampaging herd in recent nights.
A local resident shared their anguish, stating, “Yesterday around 1 am, our houses and paddy fields were completely destroyed. The elephants even ate our vegetables. Despite our pleas, the forest department has not responded to address the issue. They seem indifferent to our suffering. We’ve submitted forms to seek compensation for the damage to our homes, but we haven’t received any assistance yet. How are we supposed to survive? Everything we had is gone. They destroyed my house and my family’s too. I had cattle and goats, and I barely managed to save them with the elephants so close. Now, I have nothing left.”
The villagers’ appeals for help and compensation have been met with silence, leaving them to fend for themselves against the destructive elephant raids.
“We live in constant fear and uncertainty,” another resident remarked. “Every night, we brace ourselves for more destruction. The authorities must act immediately to provide us with relief and ensure our safety.”
The villagers’ plight underscores the urgent need for effective measures to address human-wildlife conflict in the region and provide timely support to affected communities.