Two women died in an elephant attack in a forest in Jalpaiguri district on Saturday while they were collecting firewood.

Foresters have seized their bodies and are keeping a watch on the area to prevent similar incidents.

Sources said a group of women from Hila tea estate of Nagrakata block crossed the Jaldhaka river and walked into the Sipchu forest that is in the fringes of Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary. While they were collecting firewood, a wild tusker reached there.

Seeing the elephant, all of them ran to save themselves. However, the elephant managed to get hold of Nima Mahali (29). It wrapped her with its trunk and tossed her on the ground. She died on the spot.

The elephant then chased Anita Mahali (18). She ran a few metres but was eventually trampled to death.

Those who managed to escape the attack informed their family members, who in turn, passed the information to police and forest officials.

Later, a team of foresters and police went to the forest and in the evening, recovered Nima’s body. As Anita could not be traced, they launched a search on Sunday and in the afternoon her body was also found in the forest.

Swajal Kumar Dey, the range officer of Khunia forest range under Gorumara wildlife division, said as the duo has died inside a reserve forest area, their families will not receive any compensation.

“It is an unfortunate incident. Time and again, we have alerted residents who live in the fringes of forests that they should not enter the forest area, risking their lives. On a number of earlier occasions, women have died in similar attacks but some people still do not pay heed to our alert,” said the forester.