Wild elephants from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve have once again started entering villages and destroying houses and property in the eastern VDCs in Saptari district.

On Monday night alone, four wild elephants from the reserve destroyed 14 houses in the area. The tuskers went on a rampage destroying houses from Bhardaha to Portaha and Madhwapur VDC.

Locals said the elephants damaged food crops, hand pumps and other items worth Rs 3 million. The family members of Sahadev Sada of Argi Tole in Madhwapur VDC have been forced to sleep under the open sky after losing all of their three houses to the tusker menace. Sada said they were fortunate to be alive. Likewise, banana plantation in over 50 katthas of land in Bhardaha VDC was also damaged by the wild elephants two days ago.

Meanwhile, Baccha Mandal of Bhardaha VDC said local people are living in constant fear of similar tusker attacks due to the apathy of the authorities concerned. “Though we have expressed our grievances to the chief district officer and other officials, we are yet to get help,” Mandal said.

Around two months ago, a man from Odraha in the district was killed in a similar attack of wild elephants.