Alani Rabha, 65, died after a wild elephant attacked her at around 5 a.m. on October 3 in Thengapara village, under the Rani Forest Range of the East Kamrup Forest Division in Assam’s Kamrup district. The elephant had been roaming through Garopara and nearby areas since Wednesday night before entering the residential locality, triggering renewed concerns over the recurring human-elephant conflict in Rani.
According to Alani’s husband, Madan Rabha, 75, the elephant moved through paddy fields towards their house in the early hours of Friday. Alani ran towards the home of their neighbour, Samudra Rabha, while Madan took shelter behind his house. The elephant crossed the couple’s courtyard and initially headed towards the road leading to the forest before turning around and charging towards Alani.
Alani fell while trying to escape and was allegedly struck repeatedly with the elephant’s trunk. The animal also dragged her towards the entrance of the neighbour’s courtyard and attacked her again. Neighbours raised an alarm, prompting the elephant to move away.
Family members rushed Alani to the Rani Community Health Centre for initial treatment. She was later referred to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital but succumbed to her injuries while being taken to Guwahati.
The elephant had entered the granary of 75-year-old Paresh Rabha at around 3 a.m., damaging the structure, pulling out a sack of paddy and consuming the grain. Several villagers later attempted to drive it away, but the animal reportedly charged towards them whenever they raised an alarm. It subsequently entered the premises of Prabin Rabha at Challi, where it damaged another house before moving towards Thengapara.
Residents said elephants frequently enter nearby villages and agricultural areas at night, damaging homes, granaries and crops while threatening people living close to forested areas. “People are living in constant fear whenever elephants enter the village. We have repeatedly informed the authorities about elephant movement, but the problem continues. Now an elderly woman has lost her life,” a resident said.
Another resident said villagers were often forced to confront elephants at night despite the risk to their lives. Residents have appealed to the forest department, the local MLA and the district administration for immediate intervention and stronger preventive measures.
Locals said simply driving elephants back after they enter a village does not address the recurring problem. They urged authorities to identify frequently used elephant movement routes and vulnerable locations, intervene before animals reach densely populated settlements and protect communities near forested areas.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/story/65-year-old-woman-killed-in-wild-elephant-attack-in-assams-kamrup-1458302-2026-10-03?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-10-03 12:32:00
