A tragic incident occurred in the Mandawali area of Bijnor on Friday morning, where a 45-year-old woman was allegedly killed by a wild elephant. The victim, identified as Brahmavati, wife of Sundar Singh, was a resident of Rampur Chaanta village. She had gone to collect milk from a dairy located approximately 500 meters from her home when the attack took place.
Forest Department Responds
Najibabad Divisional Forest Officer Abhinav Raj confirmed that a team reached the spot after receiving information about the incident. He stated, 'Prima facie, it appears the woman was killed by an elephant, but the exact cause of death will be confirmed after the post-mortem examination.' The forest department has initiated an investigation into the matter.
Locals Allege Delay in Response
Residents of the area expressed dissatisfaction with the response time of the authorities. They alleged that officials arrived nearly two hours after they had informed the forest department and local police about the incident. This delay has raised concerns about the effectiveness of emergency response mechanisms in the region.
Rising Human-Elephant Conflict
The incident comes amid reports of increased movement of wild elephants in nearby villages over recent months. Locals have urged the administration to deploy rapid-response teams and implement long-term measures to prevent such tragic events. They emphasize the need for better monitoring and preventive strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
The forest department has assured that necessary steps will be taken to address the situation and ensure the safety of residents. Further details are awaited as the post-mortem report will shed more light on the exact cause of death.
