Wild elephants damage three houses in Dhupguri town

A herd of three wild elephants strayed into Dhupguri town in Jalpaiguri on Thursday morning and damaged three houses.

The three elephants strayed from the adjoining Sonakhali forests in Gorumara National Park and roamed about in ward number 14 and 16 in Dhupguri.

Joggers and newspaper hawkers were taken aback on seeing the wild pachyderms cross the National Highway 31 that passes through the heart of Dhupguri town. As more people started gathering, the scared elephants forayed into a densely populated locality in ward number 16 and damaged three houses that came on their way.

The herd then moved towards the Dhupguri railway station at the same time when the Sealdah-Alipurduar Teesta Torsha Express was passing from there. 

Without causing any damage, the elephants crossed over the railway station and got down into a pond.

After getting information, forest officials rushed to the spot and drove back the elephants into Sonakhali forest.

Wild elephants passing by the vicinity of Dhupguri town is not unusual, but local residents say they cannot recall Thursday’s incident when wild pachyderms foraying into the heart of the town.