The injured woman has been identified as Shankari Nayak. According to local sources, she had entered the forest early Tuesday morning along with five others in a small boat to collect crabs. The area is known for frequent tiger movement, yet many residents enter it daily to earn their livelihood.

While collecting crabs near a creek close to Kulas Island, a tiger suddenly emerged from the mangroves and attacked Shankari Nayak. She suffered severe injuries during the attack. The other members of the group raised an alarm and shouted, which forced the tiger to retreat, saving her life.

After the incident, the injured woman was rushed to Patharpratima Rural Hospital for initial treatment. As her condition worsened, doctors referred her to Kakdwip Sub-Divisional Hospital. She is currently undergoing treatment, and her condition remains critical.

Repeated tiger attacks in the Sundarbans have raised serious concerns about wildlife management and human safety. Local residents have urged authorities to strengthen safety measures to protect people who depend on fishing and crab collection for survival.

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In a post on X, Gogoi said the deaths of elephants following the train collision were deeply disturbing. He stressed that such tragedies reflect shrinking natural habitats and disrupted wildlife corridors. According to him, rapid and poorly planned development has reduced forest cover across Assam.

Gogoi said traditional elephant migration routes now face repeated obstructions. He added that ecological safeguards often get ignored during infrastructure expansion. He blamed the situation on a lack of foresight and accountability in governance.

The Congress leader urged policymakers to prioritise people, communities, and the environment over short-term economic gains. He warned that ignoring this balance will increase ecological damage and social costs in Assam.

The accident occurred early morning on the Jamunamukh–Kampur section of the Lumding division under Northeast Frontier Railway. The Dibrugarh–New Delhi Rajdhani Express struck a herd of elephants. The collision derailed the engine and five coaches. Seven elephants died, while passengers remained unharmed.

Senior railway officials reached the site quickly and began restoration work. Further reviews of safety measures are expected.

The post Gaurav Gogoi Assam Elephants Deaths Raise Alarms Over Policy Failures appeared first on India Podcast.

Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, during a review meeting in Pune, confirmed that the project aims to scientifically control leopard population without harming the animals. The Pune district alone is estimated to host around 1,300 leopards, making it one of the densest big-cat landscapes outside forest reserves. Rising attacks in the past five years have led to panic, protests and demands for strong action from local communities.

During the first phase, five female leopards will undergo an immunocontraceptive procedure at the Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre. This method, commonly used in global wildlife population control, is considered humane and non-invasive compared to surgical sterilisation. The initiative will be monitored by a committee headed by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will guide technical and scientific aspects. If successful, the programme may be extended to Nashik and Ahilyanagar, two other conflict-prone districts.

The approval comes after a 17-month review process that included clarifications, revisions and scientific evaluation by WII. Meanwhile, public pressure escalated following multiple fatal attacks in recent months, including the death of a 13-year-old boy in Shirur on November 1.

Officials believe the programme could become a national policy model for managing rising big-cat numbers near human settlements, balancing conservation and community safety.

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