Garhwal Post Bureau
Haridwar, 30 Jul: A Van Gujjar was killed in a wild elephant attack in Kanswali beat of Shyampur range under Haridwar forest division this morning, creating panic among officials and locals. The deceased has been identified as Ehsan, a resident of a nearby Van Gujjar settlement, who had gone into the reserved forest to collect fodder. The reports suggest that he was confronted by a wild elephant which attacked him repeatedly, leaving him fatally injured on the spot. Witnesses stated that the elephant struck him several times, causing instant death.
On receiving the information of the incident, the forest officials rushed to the site and initiated the necessary procedures, while Shyampur police also arrived and have taken the body into custody. Later, the body was sent for post-mortem at the district hospital. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Swapnil Aniruddh also reached the spot with his team and inspected the area, confirming the evidence of elephant presence at the location. He said the department has begun collecting the photographs, GPS coordinates and eyewitness accounts as part of the investigation.
The authorities have restricted entry into the location to prevent further incidents. Preliminary findings indicate that Ehsan had gone alone into the forest when he encountered the elephant. His family members are inconsolable following the tragedy. The DFO appealed to the residents to remain cautious in areas frequented by elephants and avoid entering reserved forest zones without necessity.
Human-elephant conflict has been a recurring issue in Haridwar and adjoining districts of Uttarakhand, particularly in Shyampur and Motichur ranges which form part of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve landscape. According to recent reports, over a dozen people have lost their lives in elephant attacks in the region in the past five years, while crop damage and property loss remain frequent complaints from villagers. The wildlife experts point out that shrinking forest corridors and increasing human activity in elephant habitats have intensified such encounters. The forest department has been working on mitigation measures including solar fencing, awareness drives and monitoring elephant movement through GPS tracking, but challenges persist. There is certainly an urgent need for stronger coordination between forest authorities, local communities and district administration to minimise risks and ensure safety in elephant-prone zones.
