SILAPATHAR, Sept 1 � Wild elephant have posed a threat to the villagers of Sissiborgaon after large devastation by the Gai river floods.
The flood affected people of greater Sissiborgaon-Amguri area of Sissiborgaon revenue block are passing sleepless nights, fearing elephant depredation at any moment.
The flood waters of Gai river caused heavy damage to a population of around 55,000 people residing in 75 villages of the block. Flood waters, as usual, destroyed standing agricultural crops. In this regard, the flood affected are passing their nights in temporary huts and relief camps. Most of the flood affected are presently residing in huts to pass the nights near the safety of their dwelling house, but the temporary huts are not safe enough in front of wild tusker.
The populations of the area as well as the wild tuskers are facing severe scarcity of food due to floods of Gai river from August 15. The wild tuskers have been destroying the paddy fields and godowns of paddy since the last several years.
Moreover, local people reported that a heard of 5 to 6 wild elephants have been staying in the nearby forest of Garmara-Ohtola since the last several years, but the flood of Gai river has changed the direction of the river and inundated the habitat of the elephants. At present, the Gai river is flowing through Takowbari-Kerakoni-Bhebali via Ohtola towards Brahmaputra river.
The wild elephants have in the meantime created havoc in the flood-affected villages like Garmara, Bahdola, Dunaguri, Bormukoli, Amguri, Kerakoni Majgaon, Sumoni, Satulachuk etc. The temporary huts of Gojen Bhuyan, Girish Bhuyan and several others of Garmara were damaged by the wild tuskers on the night of August 24.
