Tragic elephant attack in Bahraich after recent wildlife scares | Lucknow News

Bahraich: After a series of attacks by wolves and leopards, a 26-year-old man was killed by an elephant in a forest area near Bahraich Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary In Bahraich district on Friday morning.
Villagers blocked the roads to protest the deaths and demanded that the Forestry Department should take immediate action to check such incidents. Forest officials said at least three elephants were in the area and advised residents to avoid forest paths.
Confirming the incident, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Katarniaghat, B Shiv Shankar said that higher authorities have been informed about the incident and the victim’s family will receive compensation soon.
A forest official said Mubarak, a 26-year-old resident of Bhawanipur village, was riding a bike towards Bharathapur when he was attacked by an elephant on the Katarniaghat Wildlife Reserve route. The animal charged at him, picked him up with its trunk and threw him into the bushes, causing him to suffer serious injuries.
Mubarak was taken to a nearby medical facility from where he was referred to Bahraich Medical College. However, he died on the way to the hospital.
In the last few days, three elephants were spotted in Bhawanipur, Amba and Matehi villages, one of them was a ‘makhna’ (a male without tusks) and the other two were tuskers.
Forest official Ram Kumar said, “The movement of elephants in the area has increased and higher authorities have been informed about it. People have been advised not to travel through forest areas. Forest volunteers, or ‘Gaj Mitras’, have been alerted to prevent this.” Forest department informs about the movement of elephants.
The local forest department and police are investigating the incident and have sealed the road between Bhawanipur and Katarniaghat.
Earlier this year, leopards caused widespread panic in Bahraich and injured more than 24 people in January. Within a month, four leopards were trapped.
Wolves also wreaked havoc in the district, claiming at least nine lives and leaving 20 others injured.
Unofficial figures suggest around ten deaths and 56 injuries in just two months.