Temple priest killed, forest outpost surrounded: How herd of 30 elephants has sparked terror along UP-Nepal border

These aren’t just one-off incidents. Over the past few months, multiple cases of elephant attacks have been reported, with the animals damaging homes, attacking residents and destroying standing crops in several villages.

The Forest department has sprung into action to prevent further man-animal conflict, keeping a close watch on the herd’s movements and mapping routes they are taking.

Officials, however, highlighted the challenges of monitoring wildlife movement between the two countries as elephant herds often breach or break through fencing at the border meant to stop them.

Forest officials have not ruled out the possibility that the elephants involved in the recent attacks may have crossed over from Nepal’s Shuklaphanta National Park, close to the border

But why do elephants keep crossing over? They are possibly looking for food and water, said officials.

Officials said it appears the temple priest had halted at a temporary shelter for the night (seen in pic), and was killed when the elephants destroyed it. Express

According to Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Apoorva Dixit, staff at the outpost had a narrow escape last evening “The body of the priest has been sent for post-mortem and its report is awaited.”

Das, a resident of Bardia village near the forested stretch, had been looking after a temple near the outpost.

On Saturday, Munni Devi (47) was allegedly killed in a suspected elephant attack in the Nishangarh range. Her two sons, Karan and Arjun, sustained injuries.

In a video that surfaced, Karan was purportedly heard saying they went to Bahraich from their home in neighbouring Lakhimpur Kheri to consult a doctor and buy medicines. They were returning on a motorcycle when they were attacked by elephants, he claimed.

The forest department is also awaiting Munni Devi’s post-mortem report. DFO Dixit said, “Only after the medical report is received will the exact cause of death be confirmed,” he said.

Following the attacks, the forest department has rolled out safety advisories for residents living inside forest fringes and adjoining areas. Authorities have appealed to people, particularly those near the border, to be vigilant.

Teams have also been going from village to village to inform locals about the movement of the herd and caution them against venturing into vulnerable zones, particularly after nightfall.

In an effort to drive the elephants away, forest workers are lighting heaps of hay laced with chilli powder, sounding hooters and bursting firecrackers to generate loud noise.

Attacks last year

In December 2025, a 50-year-old farmer was trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants while guarding his sugarcane fields in Lakhimpur Kheri district

In November, the body of a 61-year-old farmer was found inside a hut located a short distance from his home in Pilibhit district. Officials suspected that he had been trampled to death by an elephant. In another incident in October, elephants had attacked and injured a 32-year-old farmer in Pilibhit.