Dhekiajuli: Two people were killed in separate encounters with wild elephants in Dhekiajuli on Tuesday morning, bringing renewed attention to the continuing human-elephant conflict in Assam.
The deceased have been identified as Rahmat Ali of No. 2 Pirakata and Ganesh Toppo of Ratunjuli. According to local residents, the incidents occurred at around 6 am when the victims were outside their homes.
In one of the attacks, Ganesh Toppo was reportedly walking with his two young children when a wild elephant emerged from a nearby forest area and charged at them. Residents said Toppo attempted to protect the children but was attacked by the elephant.
The two children, reportedly around five and seven years old, also suffered injuries in the incident.
Residents of the area said elephant movement has become a recurring concern, with wild elephants frequently entering human settlements in search of food and moving through nearby habitation. They have urged the Forest Department and the state government to take stronger measures to reduce the risk to people living close to elephant habitats.
The latest fatalities come amid a series of deadly human-elephant encounters reported across Assam in September. Two people were killed in separate incidents on September 6 and 7, followed by another death in Goalpara on September 14.
On September 6, Assam Police havildar Amzad Ali was reportedly attacked by a wild elephant at the 17th Assam Police Battalion camp in Dakurbhita, Goalpara. The following day, 39-year-old farmer Umakanta Moran was killed after being attacked by a wild elephant in Digboi while he was returning home on a motorcycle.
With the two deaths reported from Dhekiajuli, local concerns have intensified over the frequency of elephant incursions and the safety of communities located near forest areas.
The scale of the problem has also been highlighted by the Assam government. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah said in July that human-elephant conflict claims nearly 150 lives annually in the state, while elephant-related crop damage continues to affect farming communities.
Government figures presented in the Assam Legislative Assembly showed that 1,147 people were killed in human-elephant conflict over the preceding decade, including 138 deaths recorded in 2025.
The state government has outlined measures aimed at addressing both the immediate and long-term aspects of the conflict. These include quicker financial assistance to families who lose members in elephant attacks as well as measures intended to reduce encounters between wild elephants and human settlements.
Under the existing compensation mechanism, the next of kin of a person killed in an elephant attack are eligible for Rs 6 lakh in ex-gratia assistance, with authorities directed to process the payment within 72 hours of the death.
District administrations have also been instructed to ensure that compensation reaches affected families without unnecessary delay, while local legislators are expected to assist in facilitating the process.
The latest incidents in Dhekiajuli have once again highlighted the challenges faced by communities living alongside Assam’s elephant habitats and the need for continued efforts to reduce potentially fatal encounters between people and wildlife.
