25 killed in 4 months as elephants storm north Bengal villages
A sharp rise in fatal elephant-human confrontations in North Bengal has left 25 people dead in four months, prompting urgent intervention from forest officials. Monsoon-triggered raids by elephants into villages continue to devastate lives, amid mounting criticism of inadequate government response.
News Arena Network - Siliguri - UPDATED: June 5, 2025, 01:54 PM - 2 min read
People look on as a wild elephant crosses a road.
A surge in fatal elephant-human confrontations has triggered alarm across North Bengal, with 25 people killed over the past four months in the forest belts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar. The most affected regions include the peripheries of Baikunthapur Forest Division, Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park and the Buxa Tiger Reserve, where rising tension is fuelling fears of further casualties.
Tragedy struck most recently on 31 May, when three members of a single family—a mother, her son and her newborn granddaughter—were trampled to death during a nocturnal elephant raid in Kunjanagar of Falakata block, Alipurduar.
The two wild elephants enter the premises of a house at Subhashpally in Falakata town earlier this year. Picture by Anirban Choudhury
This came in quick succession to two separate incidents in May. On the 14th, 36-year-old migrant worker Rajesh Orao was fatally attacked near the Teesta Canal in Gazoldoba. On the 22nd, two young men—Tushar Das and Narayan Das—were killed while attempting to drive away a rogue elephant that had strayed from Baikunthapur forest.
The conflict intensifies during the monsoon months, when around 150 elephants seek refuge in Jaldapara National Park. As night descends, herds fragment into smaller groups and raid nearby villages in search of food, particularly targeting stored jackfruit and maize. These nocturnal incursions frequently result in damaged homes, destroyed crops and human fatalities.
Local authorities are facing criticism. Gopal Chandra Barman, a gram panchayat member in Kunjanagar, Falakata, said, “The elephants begin their rampage at dusk. Our crops are being ruined. There are not enough forest workers and no one is coming to our aid. The government’s inaction has cost innocent lives. This must stop.”
Echoing this concern, wildlife enthusiast Jaydev Dey observed, “Despite awareness drives, locals continue to risk their lives by confronting elephants. These confrontations often end in tragedy. The forest department is understaffed and overwhelmed.”
In response to the escalating death toll, the forest department has launched a multi-pronged campaign to mitigate the crisis. Praveen Kashwan, Divisional Forest Officer of Jaldapara National Park, stated, “We are witnessing a spike in human-elephant conflict between May and July. To counter this, 28 rapid response teams have been deployed in critical areas. Over 200 personnel, supported by Joint Forest Management Committee members, are engaged in an aggressive door-to-door awareness campaign across villages and tea estates.”
In addition to human outreach, technological interventions have been introduced. A 100-kilometre stretch around Jaldapara has been fenced, and real-time updates on elephant movements are being sent via 2,000 SMS alerts to the police and local officials to boost preparedness.
Meanwhile, Raja M, Divisional Forest Officer of the Baikunthapur Division, stated, “Following recent fatalities, we’ve bolstered our elephant squads and established a temporary elephant camp. Six Quick Response Teams are on high alert to minimise risks and ensure human safety.”
As North Bengal reels under the strain of these fatal encounters, forest officials face the monumental challenge of safeguarding both wildlife and human settlements in a precarious zone of coexistence—one that now demands swift action, coordination and compassion.
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