Tura, Dec 13: A man and a woman have been killed and two others left critically injured in separate incidents of an elephant attack in the Gambegre block jurisdiction of West Garo Hills on Thursday afternoon.
West Garo Hills district superintendent of police, Abraham T Sangma confirmed that two villagers lost their lives in the attack by a rogue elephant. Another two victims are battling for their lives in a hospital in Tura.
According to preliminary reports, the elephant first attacked a man repairing his bamboo fences on his plantation in the village of Dangsapra trampling him to death.
The same elephant also attacked a woman who was out in the nearby forest to collect firewood for her kitchen resulting in her death.
After leaving the area, the elephant reportedly entered neighbouring Dinasagre village and attacked two other women, leaving them grievously injured. Both are in a critical condition in Tura civil hospital.
With the dry winter season having begun and a fast eroding forest cover, herds of wild elephants cross into villages and paddy fields to seek food resulting in conflict between man and beast, often with devastating consequences.
