Wild elephants attack: Residents flee for their lives

Displaced families living in Dhakka of Kanchanpur have demanded to guarantee the safety of their lives from repeated wild elephants' attacks. Khagiraj Rana, 45, a resident of the camp, was attacked and killed by an elephant on Saturday night.

Displaced families have demanded to ensure their basic right to life after a herd of wild elephants broke into a daily camp and started destroying huts and injuring people. Families who were displaced during the expansion of the then Shuklaphanta Wildlife Sanctuary have been living in camps in Dhakka, demanding rehabilitation.

"Displaced families have been living near Shuklaphanta National Park due to lack of rehabilitation," said Hira Singh Bhandari. We have even submitted a memorandum.” He said that necessary measures have been taken to chase away the elephants.

"We have asked Assistant Chief District Officer Ashok Kumar Bhandari to provide security, guaranteeing the right to basic livelihood," he said.

Fearing the elephants, the camp dwellers leave their residence camps every evening and go to sleep in a safer place. "Even the Nepal Army deployed for security will not allow firewood to be brought from the park," said local Bhagirath Bhatta, "The fire used to keep elephants away." For safety, children have to go to the nearby Chandeu to sleep under the open sky. ” Families who were displaced in 2058 BS during the expansion of the reserve have been living in Dhakka camp.

Radha Devi Bogati, 45, of Beldandi Gaonpalika-2 was also injured in the attack on Sunday night. Bogati was injured when a herd of wild elephants destroyed her house. "While she was sleeping, the elephant started destroying the house," said Ram Bahadur Bogati, husband of the injured Radha. "She was injured while fleeing." The elephant has also damaged 10 quintals of paddy stored inside Bogati's house. The house has been completely demolished and damaged.

Meanwhile, a team including Chief District Officer Ram Prasad Pandey on Monday monitored the elephant-infested Dhakka camp and the Beldandi area. While monitoring the elephant-affected area, Pandey said that effective work would be carried out for elephant control. He has also assured to provide necessary materials to the residents of the affected areas along with mobilizing security personnel to chase away the elephants. He also pledged to take initiative to provide compensation to the families of the victims.