A woman named Jharna Chakma, 60, has been killed in an attack by a herd of wild elephants at Kamilachhari on the Assambasti-Kaptai link road in Rangamati. Another woman was injured in the incident and is being treated at Rangamati General Hospital; her name and identity could not be learned.

Two separate incidents were reported between 5pm and 6pm on Sunday, 16 November. Two CNG-run autorickshaws were crushed and a motorcycle was damaged in them.

The dead woman, Jharna Chakma, lived in Chairman Para, Ward 3 of Jibtali union in Rangamati Sadar upazila. The injured are Animesh Chakma and Trijoy Chakma; the name of the other injured woman could not be learned.

Dhan Bikash Chakma, UP member for Ward 2 of Jibtali union in Rangamati Sadar upazila, said a woman was killed in the elephant attack at around 6pm and three others were injured: one woman and two men.

Omar Faruk Swadhin, 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 around 5.20pm on Sunday. Those on board moved away from the spot and informed the forest department.

He said forest staff went quickly towards the scene and at around 6pm found another CNG autorickshaw lying on the road in the Kamilachhari area, with two women (from the hill community) injured. They were rescued and taken towards Rangamati General Hospital, and one died on the way. The other is being treated at the hospital, where the body of the dead woman is also kept.

The range officer said two separate herds of elephants 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.