Assam: IOCL security guard injured by elephant in Digboi
Identified as M.M. Kawa, the guard was rushed to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh for further treatment. His condition was reported to be stable.
By Avik Chakraborty
DIBRUGARH:
A security guard of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) was injured by a wild elephant at Jamtala area of Digboi on Friday night.
Identified as M.M. Kawa, the guard was rushed to Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH), Dibrugarh for further treatment. His condition was reported to be stable.
"Human-elephant conflict in Digboi area is common, our forest personnel are trying hard to drive the elephants from the human settlements, but the elephants often stray into human habitation due to shrinking of forest cover. The elephants mostly comes to human-inhabited areas searching for food," said a forest official while giving details about the incident.
Likewise, Bijay Gogoi, an environmentalist, based in Digboi said, "Human-elephant conflict has been rising because of the forest encroachment. The elephants cannot roam freely due to shrinking forest cover, hence, they end up coming into human territory."
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Digboi Forest Division, T.C Ranjit Ram informed that IOCL has formed a unit of security guards trained to drive elephants away from the IOCL area.
"Movement of elephants was blocked after IOCL had built a terminal at Golai a few years back. We have already initiated a process to clear 200 meters stretch for free movements of elephants. The corridors should be open for free passage of elephant herds," said the DFO.
It may be mentioned that earlier on Wednesday, a 70-year-old man identified as Chitranjan Chakraborty was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Durgabari under Digboi Forest Division in Tinsukia.
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