Elephant depredation in the greater Bokakhat area of Upper Assam’s Golaghat district has triggered panic among residents, especially after a villager was critically injured at Lokhowjan on Sunday morning.

Bipul Dutta of Lokhowjan was critically injured after being attacked by a herd at his residence.

He was initially admitted to Bokakhat civil hospital and later shifted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.

The herd, comprising more than 50 wild elephants, had come out of Karbi hills in search of food and ran amok at Lokhowjan, Barchapori, Rajabari and other adjoining villages, damaging houses, granaries and farms.

The herd next crossed National Highway 37 and entered Chinakan village.

When forest officials from Numaligarh forest beat office drove the herd away from Chinakan, it came back to Lokhowjan via Merkan.

Elephant depredation in Golaghat district is on the rise due to largescale deforestation.