Wild Elephant Kills Two in Assam Attack Spree

Guwahati: A wild elephant rampaged through the Dhekiajuli area of Assam's Sonitpur district on Tuesday, September 22, leaving two dead and one person hospitalized. The animal emerged from a forest and struck victims at three distinct sites around 7 am. Rahmat Ali of No. 2 Pirakata and Ganesh Toppo of Ratunjuli died in the encounters.

The beast attacked Toppo as he walked with his children at 6:30 am. Witnesses reported he died while shielding his young kids. Rup Singh Bormahalia survived the attack and now receives care at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital. Local reports suggest the two children, aged five and seven, also suffered injuries.

The animal is now resting at Balipara Tea Estate. Forest personnel are tracking its position to push it back into the wild. Bishwajyoti Das, the Sonitpur West Divisional Forest Officer, stated, "The Forest Department is closely monitoring the elephant's movement and taking measures to prevent further incidents."

These deaths push the state's toll to five in just 16 days. Previous attacks this month claimed the lives of Amzad Ali, a police havildar, and farmer Umakanta Moran. Records show 1,147 people died in state-wide human-elephant conflicts over the last decade. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah noted that annual fatalities often hit 150. Officials now promise Rs 6 lakh in compensation for families within 72 hours.