Siliguri, 19th August: The residents of Shiv Nagar, nestled within the jurisdiction of the Salugara Forest Department of Dabgram-I Gram Panchayat, find themselves grappling with the persistent threat posed by wild elephants. As the disturbances caused by the elephants continue, frustrations have escalated, with local residents expressing dissatisfaction with the Forest Department’s role.
According to sources, two wild elephants ventured into the Shiv Nagar area at night and initiated a trail of destruction, leaving two houses in ruins and causing damage to multiple shops. The consequences of the elephant intrusion raised concerns among the locals, both about their safety and the security of their properties.
Upon receiving news of the incident, a team from the Salugara Forest Department promptly intervened to redirect the elephants back into the forested area. However, this incident has deepened existing tensions, as local residents assert that such episodes of elephant invasions are alarmingly frequent. Frustration has mounted against the Forest Department, with residents asserting that repeated pleas for heightened vigilance and the installation of protective measures, such as barbed wire barriers, have gone unanswered.