Farmers Demand Compensation as Elephants Destroy Rice Fields

The recent wave of elephant raids in the district has left rice paddies in ruins. Entire plots belonging to small‑scale cultivators have been flattened, prompting angry calls for restitution.

Pradeep Nag described the scene as “a field of mud and broken stems,” while Baijnath Sahu added that the loss will affect his family’s food security for months. Both have filed formal complaints with forest officials, seeking prompt financial redress.

Local NGOs have stepped in, urging the authorities to implement effective deterrent systems such as electric fencing and early‑warning alerts. The farmers argue that without a concrete response, future harvests will remain endangered.

The forest department has pledged to investigate the incidents, but villagers remain skeptical until tangible actions and compensation are delivered.