Tusker kills three minors, several others injured

Dehradun, June 7 (UNI) Three minors including two girls were killed and eight persons were seriously injured when a tusker attacked them at Rajaji National Park in Pauri district of Uttarakhand.

According to the police all the children killed and those injured were part of a marriage procession. They were attacked by the elephant tomorrow when they ventured into the forest at Laldhang. Farha (10), Shabana (13) and Fayeez (6) were killed on the spot by the tusker. The enraged elephant was later chased back to the forest by villagers from nearby village by beating tin drums. All the injured were admitted to a local hospital. The District authority has warned the people to refrain from entering the forest as mating season of elephants was on.

Chief Minister Maj Gen (Retd) Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri has instructed the Forest Department to provide ex gratia of Rs 50,000 to the family of deceased children and Rs 25,000 to those seriously injured. The Chief Minister has asked Director Rajaji, National Park to constitute patrolling team and conduct regular patrolling to avoid human and animal confrontation. He has appealed the people not to enter forest without the knowledge of forest officials and security measures. Mr Khanduri has ordered the senior Forest officials to probe the incident.

UNI