By Ajitha Menon

Bankura (West Bengal), Sep. 9 (ANI): A herd of 90 elephants entered West Bengal’s Bankura District on Thursday, causing loss of life and property.

The elephants divided themselves into two groups and entered Beliatore and Sonamukhi blocks of the district. According to reports, one person died, four were injured and 50 huts were damaged.

Forest department officials said they knew the location of the elephants, but wanted to bring them to one place before driving them out.

“Elephants are staying at three places and we are trying to bring it in single place so that it will be easy for doing the driving operation. We already may plan to drive the elephants at the earliest so that we can get rid of this problem,” said S. Kulandidal the Divisional Forsest Officer (DFO) of Bankura North Division.

To control the elephant menace, a proposal for the rehabilitation of these elephants has been send to central government.

“We already sent a proposal to the Government of India through Government of West Bengal to capture these elephants and put them in rehabilitation center so that damage to life and property will be minimized,” said Kulandidal.

Experts claim that massive deforestation, poaching and people encroaching upon forest corridors have forced elephants to move out of their natural habitats in search of food and water elsewhere. (ANI)