Forest Department Deploys Special Teams to Protect Chhath Puja Worshippers from Elephants
At Least Ten Ghats in Alipurduar Area at Risk of Elephant Intrusion
The state forest department is taking the lead in keeping elephants away from the ghats of several rivers in the Alipurduar area, where thousands of worshippers are expected to gather on Sunday night and Monday early for Chhath Puja.
In the blocks of Kumargram and Kalchini, the district features at least ten ghats that are close to the Buxa Tiger Reserve.
Additionally, the Jaldapara National Park is bordered by a few smaller ghats in Hasimara and Dalsingpara.
The deputy field director (west) of BTR, Parveen Kaswan, stated: "There are at least ten Chhath Puja ghats on the banks of various rivers next to forests. Elephants roaming free in these places do so often. Special teams have been constituted, and one of these squads is stationed in each ghat to prevent any unfortunate incidents during the festival days. They'll have everything they need to scatter the elephants.
The phone details of forest authorities have been given to the Chhath Puja committees, who prepare the ghats for prayer.
"There would be the forest teams." However, a senior forester advised them to inform the cops for prompt action if they see a wild elephant seen close to a ghat.
Elephants often go to the rivers at night or in the early morning to get water. Many devotees camp out in tents and pandals at the ghats on Chhath night, returning home in the early hours of the morning after the puja.
Elephants may arrive to the ghats in search of food since the devotees would be carrying fruits and other food items for devotion. "This is an additional rationale for implementing these safety measures," a forester said.
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