Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

Elephants destroyed about seven acres of paddy fields belonging to the three households in Jangsa chiwog in Langchenphu gewog, Samdrupjongkhar around 2am yesterday.

About two acres of paddy fields belonging to one of the households were severely affected. The forest officials and volunteers helped people chase the elephants.

The chiwog tshogpa said that he reported the matter to the gewog administration and agriculture office.

The people in the chiwog, he said, depend on the rice as the primary sources of income. “We cannot do anything because the wild elephants attack people when we try to chase them. It is very risky,” the tshogpa said.

Tarabir Subba, 52, said that the elephants destroyed more than two acres of his paddy fields. “I have nothing left in the field. What am I to do now?”

He said the forest, gewog administration, and agriculture officials visited the site and conducted damage assessment. “Our while effort has gone in vain.  Who would compensate our losses?”

Farmers say that solar fencing is not effective in keeping the elephant out and they requested the agencies concerned for the electric fencing.