Five injured as vehicles collide with wild elephants

PRASHANT ACHARYA

SILIGURI,: Five individuals sustained injuries when their vehicles collided with a herd of wild elephants on Wednesday night around 8 pm along Asian Highway II near Kistopur under the Bagdogra Forest Range.

Two of the injured were critically hurt and were transported to North Bengal Medical College & Hospital after receiving first aid at Bagdogra Primary Health Centre.

The incident involved an auto-rickshaw and a pick-up jeep, both of which were severely damaged. According to the injured, the elephants used their trunks to strike the vehicles but they managed to escape with their lives.

According to Bagdogra Forest Range, three elephants were crossing the highway towards a tea garden when a speeding auto collided with them. The pick-up jeep veered off and hit a tree in an attempt to avoid the elephants.

A Forest official urged motorists to exercise caution, especially in designated elephant crossing zones between Bagdogra and Naxalbari.