Elephant kills 3 in Jalpaiguri in North Bengal

Three women, one of whom was pregnant, were trampled to death by a tusker on Wednesday night at Baikantapur forest division in Jalpaiguri district of north Bengal.

The elephant also injured three, including a minor. One of them has been admitted with critical injuries to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri.

The event that occurred about 550 kms away from Kolkata started on Wednesday night when a lone male elephant had entered a bustee about 15 km from Jalpaiguri.

As the tusker started attacking houses, 32-year old Bhanubala Das, who was pregnant, tried to flee from her house. But losing direction she reached near the animal.

The tusker first attacked her with its trunk, threw her away and started trampling her till she died on the spot.

The villagers tried to distract the tusker's attention by using sound crackers and fire. But it got more agitated and went berserk and started chasing people.

Alladi Das, 27, and Sujalabala Das, 28 were crushed under the tusker's feet.

Three more villagers including a minor were also injured. A critically injured Chanchal Das was admitted at NBMCH. Two others were admitted to the Jalpaiguri district hospital.

Elephants had strayed into villages in the Jalpaiguri district twice in August and October 2009. But none were killed in those attacks.

According to forest department officials if the elephant continues to create havoc and kill people, it would be declared rogue. And in that case, it has to be shot.

If it is killed, it will be the third elephant to be killed in North Bengal since 25 June 2002.