Another woman injured in a wild elephant attack at Kamilachhari on the Assambasti-Kaptai link road in Rangamati has died, bringing the number of women killed in the incident to two. Two other autorickshaw passengers were also injured.

The two separate elephant attacks took place at around 6pm on Sunday, 16 November. Two CNG-run autorickshaws were crushed and a motorcycle was damaged.

The women who died are Jharna Chakma, 60, and Sabita Chakma, 62. Jharna Chakma lived in the Chairman Para area of Jibtali union in Rangamati Sadar upazila, and Sabita Chakma in the Golachhari area of Mogban union. The injured are Animesh Chakma and Trijoy Chakma; their full details could not be learned.

Dhan Bikash Chakma, UP member for Ward 2 of Jibtali union in Rangamati Sadar upazila, said one woman was killed in the elephant attack at around 6pm. Another injured woman was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died today. Two more autorickshaw passengers were injured in the incident.

Omar Faruk, Kaptai range officer of the Chittagong Hill Tracts South Forest Division, said a herd of wild elephants attacked a CNG autorickshaw in the Sadarbit area at about 5.30pm yesterday. The autorickshaw moved to a safe distance and informed the forest department of the attack. Forest staff went quickly towards the scene and at around 6pm found another CNG autorickshaw lying on the road at Kamilachhari, with two elderly women injured. They were rescued, and one died on the way to Rangamati General Hospital. The other was referred from Rangamati General Hospital to Chattogram for better treatment, and she too died under treatment today.

The range officer said two separate herds were at the scene, with six or seven elephants including calves. By 7pm, with the help of the army and fire service, travellers and tourists on the road had been moved to safety.

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