A 56-year-old woman was killed in a tragic wild elephant attack after a flood-displaced elephant entered a revenue village near Assam’s Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, underscoring the growing human-wildlife conflict during the monsoon season.

The victim, identified as Chanju Urang, a widow from Na Bormura Miripathar Dhola village in Tinsukia district, was attacked around 4:30 a.m. on July 22 while carrying out her routine morning chores in the courtyard of her home. According to family members, the lone elephant suddenly charged at her, leaving little time for anyone to intervene. Despite desperate attempts by relatives to rescue her, she succumbed to the injuries after being trampled.

Forest officials believe the elephant had wandered out of the flood-hit Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, where rising floodwaters have submerged large stretches of habitat. The inundation is thought to have forced the animal to move into nearby human settlements in search of higher ground and safety, bringing it into direct conflict with people.

Officials from the Forest Department and Dhola Police Station reached the spot soon after the incident. The body was sent to Tinsukia Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination. Authorities have also initiated the process of providing ex gratia compensation to the victim’s family after completion of legal formalities.

Chanju Urang is survived by her daughter and granddaughter. The incident highlights the recurring conservation challenge in Assam, where annual floods force wildlife out of protected areas, increasing encounters between humans and wild animals. Experts have long stressed the need for improved flood management, habitat connectivity, and early-warning systems to reduce such tragic conflicts during the monsoon season.