Thirty people fall prey to wild elephants in Chhattisgarh

NEW DELHI: Herds of wild elephants straying from shrinking habitats in Orissa and Jharkhand have killed at least 30 people in Chhattisgarh so far this year.

"This year at least 30 persons have been trampled by jumbos who come from Orissa and Jharkhand where their habitat has shrunk," N K Bhagat, Chattisgarh chief wildlife warden said.

"Incidents of conflicts are more during wee hours or late nights when villagers go to the outskirts to relieve themselves. They are suddenly taken aback by jumbo attacks and the nuisance has recently taken alarming proportion," Bhagat said

The official rued that even as herds of elephants keep rampaging their stocks of crops and property the promised meeting between the states facing elephant terror and the Centre is yet to take place.

"Last month, union environment minister Jairarm Ramesh had promised a meeting with the elephant range states to chalk out a strategy to develop elephant corridor and prevent man-animal conflict. But the meeting is yet to happen," Bhagat added.

To tackle the growing menace, the state has joined hands with local NGOs, who are advising villagers to stay back in their homes during night and not to panic when the animal is in front of them.