Wild Elephant Herd Disrupts Digboi Neighborhoods

Guwahati: A herd of wild elephants wandered into Digboi residential areas early Wednesday morning. They emerged from the Upper Dihing Reserved Forest around 4 a.m. The animals marched through Gorufatek, Muliabari, and the Seuj Project area. Panic set in. Residents, commuters, and students stayed indoors as the giants blocked roads and tore through banana plantations and sugarcane fields.

The animals destroyed crops throughout the morning. Fortunately, no one got hurt. No homes sustained damage. Still, local tempers flared regarding the Digboi Forest Division and Assam Oil Division. People questioned why current deterrents failed to stop the breach. Officials have spent money on solar fences and prevention teams, but the herd bypassed them easily.

Locals pointed to the destruction of traditional paths like the Golai and Bogapani corridors. Habitat loss forces these animals toward human settlements to find food. Many remember the tragedy from 2020. That year, an elephant killed a 67-year-old woman near the Golai corridor. Locals now demand a better plan.

Residents are pushing for coordinated action from the forest department and district administration. They want better monitoring and early warning systems. Wildlife observers noted: "Residents said repeated incidents show that areas along elephant corridors remain vulnerable despite earlier warnings and incidents." They insist the region needs a long-term strategy to safeguard both the people and the elephants.