An elderly couple in Chingi village, Madhya Pradesh, lost their lives when a herd of wild elephants attacked and destroyed their mud house. The tragic incident occurred during the night between Sunday and Monday. The elephants surrounded the house, leading to the couple’s demise as they were trampled by the animals. The village was left in a state of panic following the unfortunate event.
The couple, identified as Bhaiya Lal Yadav (60) and his wife Tiliya Yadav (58), were asleep when the elephants entered the village late at night. This incident sparked protests among villagers who criticized the authorities for alleged negligence and delays in providing rehabilitation measures. The villagers expressed frustration over the lack of action taken despite their repeated pleas for the relocation of families residing near forest areas.
After the attack, a large number of villagers gathered at the site, voicing their grievances against the administration for not addressing their concerns regarding the relocation and rehabilitation of at-risk families. It was revealed that while some families from Chingi village had been relocated under a government scheme, approximately 40 individuals, including Bhaiya Lal Yadav’s family, had reportedly not benefited from the program.
The villagers highlighted that despite submitting numerous applications to the administration and the office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), no substantial steps had been taken to address their plight. They emphasized that delays in the rehabilitation process had led many families to continue residing in vulnerable areas, exposing them to potential dangers.
SDM Shailesh Kumar Dwivedi, responding to the villagers’ concerns, assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted into the displacement and rehabilitation issues raised. He pledged to take appropriate action following a detailed inquiry into the matter. The escalating incidents of elephant movement in Sidhi district have raised alarms, with herds frequently encroaching upon villages near forest boundaries, resulting in crop destruction, property damage, and attacks on residents.
The growing human-elephant conflict has emerged as a significant worry for inhabitants residing in forest-adjacent regions of the district.
