The areas surrounding Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, along with the Bagchung Reserved Forest, are once again facing a sharp rise in human–elephant conflict. Villages such as Rangaloo, Rangaloo-Paharguri and Chikoni have reported frequent movements of wild elephant herds, causing fear and disruption to daily life.
According to local residents, the situation has slowly worsened over the past few months. Herds of elephants are entering farmlands almost every night. As a result, many villagers are spending their nights in makeshift watch-huts near their fields. They keep constant vigil to protect their paddy crops and homes. With winter setting in, several villagers say that they are lighting fires in their fields to scare away the elephants, hoping the animals will avoid the heat and smoke.
Farmers in these areas have been suffering heavy losses. Many have seen their standing paddy crops destroyed within minutes. Some houses and other properties have also been damaged during elephant raids. In earlier incidents, the conflict has even claimed human lives, leaving families devastated and communities anxious. 
Villagers say the problem has been continuing for several years, but no strong or permanent measures have been taken so far. Despite repeated appeals, the situation on the ground remains unchanged. Many express frustration that the issue gains attention only when major damage occurs, after which things return to the same pattern again.
The government’s “Gaja Mitra” scheme, which was announced with much publicity and was expected to bring relief, has not made any real impact, villagers say. According to them, the scheme remains mostly on paper, with no meaningful steps taken in the affected areas.
People living near Kaziranga and the Bagchung Reserved Forest now say they fear the coming months, as elephants usually frequent the villages more often during this season. For many families, protecting their crops and homes has become a daily struggle, and they are hoping that authorities will finally take the issue seriously and provide lasting solutions.
