DIGBOI, Dec 10 - Wild elephants emerging out of various reserve forests falling within the Upper Dehing Reserve Forest under Digboi Forest division here in Tinsukia district have been creating havoc in several areas damaging the ripe paddy in the fields beside entering human habitation belts creating terror among the common people.
The worst-affected areas include the Balijan-Borjan agrarian belt, Lakhipather forest village, AOD residential areas within the township adjacent to Shillong Road which are bounded by thick vegetation cover on three sides. The herds of elephants in quest of fodder frequent the residential areas and roads sometimes posing threat to the pedestrians leading to traffic disruption on Digboi-Margherita and Digboi-Pengaree, Digboi-Makum Roads. British-built AOD bungalows in the isolated hill tops at Shillong Road are no exception.
However, the forest personnel and the members of the local NGOs the Evergreen Foundation and Green Buds Society and animal lovers are passing sleepless nights to avert any incidents of man-elephant conflict at various locations under Digboi Forest Division.
