BIRATNAGAR: The growing menace of wild elephants in the Bahundangi area of Jhapa has left local residents living in a state of constant terror.

The intrusion of wild elephants in large herds has heightened anxieties among the locals, who fear the destruction of their crops as well as direct attacks on human lives.

A total of 31 people have lost their lives prematurely to elephant attacks so far, including 29 individuals in the past and two others this year. To protect citizens from these attacks, a 17.14 km solar fence was previously installed along the western bank of the Mechi River through the initiative of the Government of Nepal. However, the solar panels have now fallen into a state of disrepair.

Ramesh Dahal, a local resident, emphasized that the government must immediately prevent the entry of these elephants, which destroy crops, vandalize houses, claim human lives, and attack livestock.

Nilkantha Tiwari, former chairman of the Bahundangi Village Development Committee (VDC), shared that the District Administration Office, Jhapa, has deployed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to the area. Additionally, the administration frequently dispatches teams from the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force to the site.

To protect themselves and save their crops from the elephants, locals have submitted memorandums to Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, the Prime Minister, and the District Administration Office in Jhapa.

The residents of this area have been enduring the terror of wild elephants for the past 40 years.