Raipur: Three people were trampled to death by an elephant in the Surajpur district of the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
According to information reaching the state capital of Raipur, the elephant was accidentally separated from its herd.
Reports say elephants are on rampage for the past 20 days and killed five people in Surajpur and Surguja regions.
The latest incident took place on April 1 at Matigada forests when 16-year-old Ratan Bargah and his friend Atan Sai were out to collect mahua fruit, a forest produce. The elephant suddenly attacked them and they were killed on the spot.
Another 20-year-old man Ramsagar, who went with two others in the forest of Palma to collect mahua, was trampled to death. The others ran for life.
In both the incidents the villagers who had gone to the forest before dawn failed to notice elephant approaching them as it was still dark. The villagers spotted the bodies later in the day and informed the forest department.
Chhattisgarh’s northern regions that abound in wild elephants, sloth bears, snakes and other wildlife creatures face human-animal conflict leading to frequent incidents of attacks and death of both human and animals.
The wild animals are also fond of mahua fruit and attack humans who go into forests to collect them. Mahua flowers are used to prepare liquor and medicines.
Wildlife activist Masoor Khan told The Times of India that both human animal depend upon forest produce and fight each other for food. “It is the duty of forest department to mandatorily divide few patches of forest regions among both and declare a no-go area for humans. One can’t control venturing of animals into villages, but human intervention in forests could be controlled.”