Agartala, April 4 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tripura, Manik Saha, visited the residence of a senior woman who tragically lost her life due to a wild elephant attack in Khowai district on Saturday morning. He assured that the state government would extend all possible support to the affected tribal family.

The unfortunate incident occurred in Jumbari village within the Teliamura subdivision, where the victim, identified as 70-year-old Manimala Debbarma, was fatally injured by the elephant in her courtyard during the early hours, as informed by local officials.

Before heading to an election rally in Chakmaghat, the Chief Minister expressed his condolences and spoke with the grieving family, who were visibly distraught upon his arrival, an official reported.

“This is indeed a tragic event. I have come here to personally assess the situation. We will provide whatever assistance we can. The state government will ensure help is arranged as per regulations,” Saha remarked to the media.

He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the family and assured them that the state government is by their side during this trying period.

The family received immediate financial aid of Rs 4 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) through local administration. Additionally, the Forest Department granted further support of Rs 1 lakh.

Accompanying the Chief Minister was Sambit Patra, a Lok Sabha member from Puri and Northeast Coordinator of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with other officials.

The victim’s son, Ajit Debbarma, stated that the elephant suddenly attacked his mother early on Saturday, causing her fatal injuries.

This incident sparked outrage among local residents, leading to a tense atmosphere in the area.

Reports indicate that both a journalist and the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) faced aggression while trying to gather details about the incident, as the situation escalated into chaos.

Angry locals, infuriated by the woman’s death, also targeted the local forest office. The SDFO was injured during the unrest, while the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) reportedly fled to avoid the escalating mob violence.

Eyewitnesses claimed that police present at the scene appeared passive, witnessing the turmoil without intervening.

The atmosphere in the region remains tense following the incident, with officials noting that such attacks are not uncommon. In recent years, at least five individuals have lost their lives due to wild elephant encounters in Khowai district alone.

Saturday’s event underscores the ongoing issue of human–elephant conflict in Northeastern states like Assam and Tripura, where such encounters frequently occur due to habitat encroachment and limited resources in forest areas.

Forest officials explained that wild elephants often stray outside designated forest regions in search of sustenance and water, which can lead to deadly interactions with humans.

As a preventive measure, residents residing near forested areas sometimes install electric fences, which have also resulted in the deaths of several elephants.