Tuskers destroy wheat crop, damage tubewell

Farmers in Bahral village of Paonta Sahib have suffered significant losses after a herd of wild elephants destroyed their wheat crops and damaged a tube well. The attack has resulted in damages worth lakhs of rupees, leaving the farming community in distress.

According to farmers, the elephants trampled on several bighas of standing wheat crop and even broke a tubewell belonging to one of the farmers. Concerned by the repeated incidents of crop destruction by wild animals, villagers immediately lodged a complaint with the Forest Department. Acting on the complaint, Forest Officer Amrik Singh visited the affected site to assess the extent of the damage.

The situation has sparked outrage among farmers, who are now demanding compensation for their losses. Farmers have urged the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Paonta Sahib to address the issue.

The farmers have also issued a stern warning to the Forest Department, stating that if wild animals continue to damage crops or private property, they will stage a protest outside the DFO office. They have vowed not to leave the premises until their demand for compensation is met.

Responding to the farmers’ concerns, Paonta Sahib DFO Aishwarya Raj acknowledged receiving the complaint and confirmed that a team had been dispatched to assess the situation. However, he clarified that the Forest Department does not have provisions to compensate for such damages.

He further stated that a meeting had been held recently at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Nahan, where discussions took place regarding crop losses due to wild animals. The Agriculture Department has been directed to create awareness among farmers and organise camps to inform them about government schemes designed to mitigate such losses.

Incidents of wild animals, especially elephants, destroying crops have been on the rise in Paonta Sahib region of Sirmaur district in Himachal Pradesh, posing a serious challenge to farmers. While authorities are working on long-term solutions, affected farmers continue to struggle with financial losses. As tensions mount, farmers in Bahral and surrounding areas await a concrete resolution to their grievances, emphasising the urgent need for policy interventions to address the growing human-wildlife conflict.