Tragic Incident: Mother and Daughter Fatally Injured by Elephants in Assam
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Synopsis
A tragic incident in Assam's Udalguri district resulted in the deaths of a mother and her daughter due to wild elephants. The incident has sparked protests against the Forest Department, highlighting the ongoing issue of human-animal conflict in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Mother and daughter fatally injured by elephants.
- Incident occurred in Udalguri district.
- Protests against Forest Department's negligence.
- Efforts by individuals like Parbati Baruah to mitigate human-animal conflict.
- Historical context of human-elephant confrontations in Assam.
Guwahati, Jan 28 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred in Assam's Udalguri district where a mother and her daughter lost their lives due to the actions of wild elephants, as confirmed by officials on Tuesday.
The unfortunate event took place while they were asleep in their home, according to reports.
Superintendent of Police (SP) for Udalguri district, Pushkin Jain, indicated that the occurrence transpired on Monday night in the Dimakuchi region, which is located near an elephant corridor.
He stated: "A 60-year-old mother and her daughter, approximately 40 years old, were resting in one of the residences that the elephants had ravaged in the area. Once the elephants departed, their bodies were discovered."
The victims have been identified as Lalmek Karmakar and her daughter, Apu Karmakar.
The remains have been dispatched for autopsy at Udalguri Civil Hospital.
On Tuesday morning, locals protested against the Forest Department, alleging negligence concerning the escalating human-wildlife conflict.
"Our homes have suffered damage from wild elephants that have emerged from the forest. We have lost two lives because the forest officials have disregarded our ongoing concerns," stated one of the protesting residents.
Significantly, to address the human-animal conflict, Hasti Kanya of Assam, Parbati Baruah, a 67-year-old woman, has made substantial contributions.
Known as the "Elephant Girl," Baruah is recognized as India’s first female mahout, and was honored with the Padma Shri award last year.
Originally hailing from the Gauripur royal family in the Goalpara district, Baruah and her father captured their first elephant in the woods of Kachugaon, Kokrajhar district, when she was only 14.
Over the past 40 years, Baruah has worked tirelessly to minimize human-elephant conflicts and challenge gender biases in this field.
The history of human-elephant clashes in Assam is extensive, and Baruah has played a key role in shaping governmental policies aimed at managing these interactions.
She has become a master in taming wild elephants, and her profound understanding of their behavior has garnered her recognition not just in Assam but also in neighboring states like West Bengal and Odisha.
