Tuskers kill 26 in Chhattisgarh

     Raipur, February 22, 2011: Chhattisgarh Government today told the state assembly that the tuskers have killed at least 26 people in the state.

     Between January 01, 2011 and January 20, 2011, a total of 16856 cases of crop loss by elephants have been reported replying to a question of Haridas Bharadwaj of Congress, Forest Minister Vikram Usendi said.

     The tuskers have killed 26 people in the state and for loss of life Rs 36.45 Lakh and for crop loss Rs 216.40 Lakh have been paid as compensation, Usendi said.

      The state government had been taking several steps to check the loss of life and properties by the elephants, including formation of an Elephant Reserve and fencing the area with flow of electric current to check their movements towards the village areas, the minister said.