DERGAON, Dec 24 - Depredation by a herd of about 50 elephants, which had come out of the Nambor Reserved Forest, continues in Badulipar, Rangamatti, Melamara, Barfalang, Daria, Buralikson, etc areas under the Dergaon Forest Beat Office in Golaghat district. In the last few days, the herd damaged several dwelling houses, besides crops, etc. In the Buralikson area on Tuesday night, forest personnel tried to divert the herd to Nambor through Abarghat to cross the river Dhansiri. But, due to intervention made by residents in the upper part, the herd strayed and split into separate groups.
On being contacted, Forest Beat Officer of Dergaon Jatin Gogoi told this correspondent that the herd was back in the reserved forest. But, sources claimed they saw a few elephants in the Buralikson area on Wednesday afternoon. Tension prevails among the residents as the ripened paddy in their fields are yet to be harvested. The residents have urged the forest department to make a strict vigil in the areas. Earlier, the herd damaged dwelling houses and granaries in Badulipar area. According to information, the herd damaged a granary belonging to one Durgeswar Saikia of Rangamatti Gaon a few days back. Around the same time, the herd also damaged the kitchen in the house of one Ratul Bhagavati of the same village. It also damaged the houses of villagers Gauranga Medak, Deepak Medak and Jharna Paul of the Railway Station area.
Later, the herd crossed the NH-37 at night and entered Chingabeel Gaon, where they damaged a few houses and devoured harvested paddy. Dergaon Forest Beat Office personnel later rushed to the spot in the morning, and finally, after several hours, forced the elephants to leave the spot.
