Villagers of Bahundangi, Jhapa, have been relieved after the government constructed an offset electric fence to prevent wild elephants from entering their properties and wreaking havoc.

More than 20 villagers were have been killed in elephant attack in the village in the past. But with the new fence in place, locals said they fell much safer now.

Krishna Acharya, one of the villagers, said besides attacking the people, elephants used to destroy their crops.

“Now the elephants cannot enter the village, at least not in a herd, like they used to in the past. We hope to reap a bigger harvest in the coming days,” said Acharya.

District Forest Officer Indramani Bhandari said the new fence system, unlike the old one, are much durable and difficult to breach.

“We have mobilised 12 technicians and guards to maintain and monitor the fence,” he said. “The fence is 18km long from Jirmale of Ilam till Mechinagar of Jhapa.”

The fence is powered by solar energy and sirens have also been set up at various points to warn the villagers before an elephant could reach their settlements.

Besides Bahundangi, the fence is also expected to protect the people of Shantinagar, Budhabare and Sanischare.