45 elephants, 204 people lost lives in man-animal conflict in 3 yrs: C’garh govt

Forest minister Mohammad Akbar, in a reply to a written question asked by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh MLA Dhamjeet Singh, said while 204 people were killed, 97 others suffered injuries in elephant attacks in the three years

Published on: Jul 27, 2021, 08:33:43 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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In Chhattisgarh, 45 elephants, and 204 people were killed in their attacks across the state between 2018 and 2020, said the government in a reply to a question in legislative assembly on Monday.

Of the 45 elephant deaths, 18 took place in 2020 while 2019 and 2018 saw 11 and 16 deaths respectively.

Forest minister Mohammad Akbar, in a reply to a written question asked by Janata Congress Chhattisgarh MLA Dhamjeet Singh, said while 204 people were killed, 97 others suffered injuries in elephant attacks in the three years.

“In total 75,081 cases of deaths, injuries, loss to crops, houses and other incidents of elephant attacks were reported, and compensation to the tune of ₹578,163,655 was given to the victims ,” said Akbar.

The maximum deaths in such incidents were reported from the northern part of the state. North Chhattisgarh is home to around 240 wild elephants which roam in the forest lands in Surguja and the nearby regions, often triggering human-elephant conflicts.

In the last decade, the state recorded an increase in its wildlife population including elephants, whose numbers rose from 225 to 290, as per the state forest department.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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