Shillong: A herd of 13 wild elephants tore through Kolomboit village on Tuesday night. The animals caused heavy property damage and ruined massive amounts of crops across the Ranikor Civil Subdivision. The herd flattened one house and trampled fields of betel nuts, pineapples, and ginger.
Ralding Kharryja watched his livelihood disappear. The elephants destroyed hundreds of his betel nut trees before leveling his residence. "Fortunately, no one was in the house that night as my wife, children, and I were away," Kharryja said. The family avoided injury by being elsewhere during the rampage.
The animals remain near the village outskirts. This pattern of destruction has triggered a fear psychosis among the locals. Farmers now refuse to enter their fields after several harrowing chases. Villagers confirm the herd has frequented the Ranikor area for four years. The community now demands immediate state government protection and financial compensation for their lost property and harvests.
Comments