Two persons died in an elephant attack near Bagdogra in Siliguri subdivision late on Wednesday evening.
Officials of the Kurseong forest division said the duo died after a tusker trampled them on Asian Highway II. Deceased Ajay Oraon, 44, and Sanjay Oraon, 41, are residents of Srilankabusty, Hatighisha, under Naxalbari block.
“Around 10.30pm, while they were returning home from Matigara on a motorcycle, a wild tusker that strayed from the Bagdogra forest attacked them. Ajay Oraon died on the spot. The other person (Sanjay) was taken to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH), where he died later,” said a source.
The incident occurred in an area identified as one of the elephant corridors of the forest division as elephants frequently cross the highway through this area.
Some locals spotted the dup slumped on the highway and informed foresters. A team from the Bagdogra forest range reached there and took them to the NBMCH.
Arun Ghosh, the sabhadhipati of Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, met the bereaved families on Thursday.
“It is truly unfortunate. Both were the sole earning members of their families. I have spoken with foresters and have asked them to pay compensation of ₹5 lakh to the families,” said Ghosh.
He said the SMP would install solar lights in Hatighisha so that people could see elephants after sundown.
Herd enters garden
A herd of around 15 elephants walked into the plantations of the Hila tea estate in Nagrakata block, Jalpaiguri, on Thursday.
“We were plucking tea leaves when the elephants suddenly entered. We left work and ran,” said worker Etowa Munda.
Work came to a halt and foresters were informed. A team from the Khunia forest range reached the tea estate.
“The herd was moving towards Diana forest but entered the garden. It is still there. We will try to steer them back to the forest,” said Dwijapratim Sen, the divisional forest officer of Gorumara wildlife division.
Blaze
Two shops were gutted in a blaze at the Station Feeder Road in Siliguri early on Thursday. Two fire tenders from the Siliguri fire station controlled the flame for an hour. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Additional reporting by our Jalpaiguri correspondent
