Foresters of Kurseong forest division have decided to drive a herd of 150-odd wild elephants, roaming in different blocks of the Siliguri sub-division, to the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary on the outskirts of Siliguri later this week.

“We have decided to begin the drive to push back wild elephants from forests under different ranges of Kurseong, to the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary, from later this week,” said Harikrishnan PJ, the divisional forest officer of Kurseong.

According to foresters, since September this year, around 150 elephants have been wandering in Bagdogra, Kalabari and Tukuriajhar forests and entering the neighbouring villages.

Over the past couple of months, the elephants have damaged crops and the properties of villagers. Eight persons have died so far in elephant attacks.

Sources in the department said they have hired five additional vehicles and engaged 30 extra workers assisting the existing forest squad to prevent elephant depredation in Matigara and Naxalbari blocks.

Every year, elephant herds reach these areas in search of fodder, just ahead of paddy harvest in September and stay till the start of winter. This year, however, the number of elephants is high, which is why incidents of depredation have also increased, said forest officials.

“A drone has been used to track the movement of the herd that has split into groups. As the animals are wandering in groups in various locations at the same time, it has been initially planned to start the process of pushback from Tukuriajhar forest in Naxalbari to Bagdogra. From there, the animals will be gradually steered to Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary,” said a forester.

Houses damaged by a fresh landslide at Pathing village in Yangang of south Sikkim on Sunday morning.

One house was completely destroyed, while five others were partially damaged by the landslide which remained active even during the dry winter months.

Kunga Nima Lepcha, the land revenue and disaster management minister of the Himalayan state, said over 60 families in the landslide-hit area had already been shifted to safer places.

No casualty has been reported.

Report by Rajeev Ravidas