Two elephants have wandered into a human settlement in India and were roaming freely. Although they caused panic, crowds grew as news spread, and Section 144 was imposed in Jalpaiguri to keep people away.

Early on Sunday morning the two elephants entered the town from the Baikunthapur forest along the Karala river. No damage was reported.

A resident of Sanjaynagar Colony next to Jalpaiguri's TB hospital said the two elephants crossed the river from the Netajipara area and came towards Jalpaiguri Super Speciality Hospital, then went back down towards the river behind the hospital. The elephants had also entered the premises of the Biswa Bangla Covid hospital.

Although there was panic at first, crowds began to gather as news of the elephants spread, and grew as the day wore on. Environmental activists feared that the bigger the crowd, the harder it would be to send the elephants back to the forest. The district administration finally imposed Section 144 to control the crowds.

The forest department believes the two elephants strayed from their herd and entered the town in search of food.

Citing Hindustan Times.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.