The frequent attacks by wild tuskers also damaged villagers' property, including homes and crops, to the tune of Tk 68 lakh, sources in the district administration said. Many panic-stricken residents of those vulnerable villages have also fled seeking safety elsewhere.

The backwoods hilly villages at Longadu and Rajastoli areas of Kaptai under Rangamati district are the ones that most frequently witness such attacks by ravaging wild elephants, forest department sources said.

"We are very much concerned at the frequent attacks by wild elephants

which storm into human habitats in search of food. The situation has now reached an alarming proportion forcing us to go for protective measures. If some barriers or barricades are not erected around the risk-prone villages, it will be too difficult to check such further attacks," Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Rangamati Jafor Ahmed Khan told The Daily Star.

"We have also recommended to the Ministry of Forest and Environment for setting up electrified fencing side by side other barricades to scare off the elephants from crossing into human habitats," the DC said. The Minister for Forest and Environment was also apprised of the alarming situation during his recent visit to Rangamati, Jafor added.

A forest ministry team has already launched a feasibility study at and around the affected villages for taking up protective measures.

Sources said attacks by wild elephants had increased in recent times as growing human population in the hilly areas disturbed their natural habitats in the forests. A section of the marauding elephants also came from the neighbouring forests of India in search of food, sources added.