Two people were killed and three others injured when two wild elephants attacked them at Uttarpara village in Ramu upazila early Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Amena Begum, 22, wife of Abdul Hadi and Ali Ahmed, 55, of the village.
Locals sources said the two wild elephants entered the village from nearby Garjonia hill at about 4:30am and vandalised about 12 houses.
At one stage, one of the animals attacked Amena’s house and trampled her, leaving her dead on the spot. However, her six-month-old baby, who was on her lap, escaped unhurt miraculously.
Another elephant picked Ali Ahmed with its trunk when he came out of his house and dashed him to the ground violently, leaving him dead on the spot.
Three other local people were also injured in the attack.
On information, a team of foresters of Bagkhali range, led by Abdul Wahab, rushed to the spot.
The foresters and the local people from their licensed guns fired 50 gunshots apparently to drive out the elephants.
But the animals could not be driven out from the village, a border area between Bandarban and Cox’s Bazar districts, till filing of this report at 1:30pm.
The injured were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital and Ramu Upazila Health Complex.
Nurul Amin, chairman of Kochhopia union, said the elephants entered the area from Myanmar in search of food. Uttarpara village is located only five kilometres off Myanmar.
-With UNB input
