According to forest officials, elephants were heard trumpeting loudly late on Saturday night. The clash between the two tuskers continued for one-and-a-half hours.

“The dead tusker was a full grown makna male of 25 to 30 years of age. Fights are natural among elephant herds. The death occurred between 10 and 11 pm,” said L G Lepcha, Field Director of Buxa Tiger Reserve.

There is no trace of the other elephant involved in the clash or the rest of the herd. Forest officials fear that the elephants might now go on a rampage in the adjoining villages.