Close shave for election observers as tusker wrecks forest bungalow

Alipurduar: Two election observers had a narrow escape after a wild elephant damaged the Jayanti Forest Inspection Bungalow in the Buxa Tiger Reserve. The elephant destroyed the kitchen shortly after the departure of the observers.

According to forest officials, on Thursday, IAS officers N.K. Sudhansu, the election observer for the Alipurduar Assembly Constituency and Sravan Kumar Jatavah, observer for the Madarihat Assembly Constituency, visited the Jayanti Inspection Bungalow for official election-related work.

The officials spent the day at the forest facility before leaving for Alipurduar town in the evening. Soon after their departure, a tusker emerged from the forest, entered the premises, and went on a rampage.

It destroyed the bungalow’s kitchen and consumed stored food before retreating back into the forest.

Speaking on the incident, Sudhansu said: “The incident occurred just after we completed our work and returned to Alipurduar. Fortunately, we were not present at night. I have since been informed about the elephant attack.”

Kumar Bimal, Field Director of the Buxa Tiger Reserve, said the incident underscores the dangers of human presence in elephant habitats. “Staying in such areas is extremely unsafe. The kitchen has been completely destroyed,” he added.