Lakhimpur Kheri, June 21 -- Human-wildlife conflicts in villages near reserved forest areas, particularly involving those practicing open defecation, have prompted district authorities to seek a solution. During meetings with district authorities, forest department officials raised the issue and reported incidents where carnivores attacked people who had ventured out to defecate in areas frequented by wild animals. Aiming to reduce such conflicts and prevent further fatal confrontations with predators, the district panchayati raj department has intervened. On Saturday, district panchayati raj officer (DPRO) Vishal Singh, during a meeting with assistant development officers (ADO) panchayat, ordered a comprehensive survey in critical blocks including Lakhimpur, Palia, Nighasan, Bankeganj, Dhaurahara, Isanagar, and Ramia Behar where several human casualties resulting from wild animal attacks have been reported. The DPRO instructed officials to identify families lacking toilets in villages located along the Dudhwa forests or other reserved forest areas. He also directed them to assist eligible families in applying online for toilet facilities to help end open defecation. Notably, the Dhaurahra, Nighasan, Palia, Gola and Majhgain forest ranges of the Dudhwa buffer have emerged as hotspots for human-animal conflicts, with several incidents of injuries and fatalities reported in villages within these ranges....