One-Year-Old Among Six Killed in Elephant Rampage in Jharkhand
Six people, including a one-year-old and a three-month-old, killed by wild elephants in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh village.
In a tragic incident in Gondwar village under Churchu block of Hazaribagh, six people, including a one-year-old child and a three-month-old infant, were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in the early hours of Friday. According to local residents, five elephants broke through the entrance gate of a house and attacked family members who were asleep inside. The sudden assault created panic across the village, with many fleeing their homes in fear.
The deceased have been identified as Suman Kumari (26), Savita Devi (25), Dhaneshwar Ram (52), Suraj Ram (50), Anurag Ram (1), and Sanjana Kumari (3 months). Four of the victims belonged to the same family. Villagers said the elephants had been roaming in the area for nearly a month, damaging crops and property and posing a constant threat to residents.
Confirming the incident, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vikas Kumar Ujjwal of the Eastern Forest Division stated that the herd appeared aggressive and difficult to track. He said forest officials have formed a special monitoring team and sought permission from higher authorities to tranquillise the elephants. Experts from Bankura have also been called to assist in driving the herd away from residential areas.
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According to the DFO, preliminary findings suggest the elephants were attempting to access stored rice when they broke open the house gate. He urged villagers to remain inside concrete structures and immediately report elephant movement to authorities. Those without permanent houses have been advised to seek shelter in nearby schools or other secure buildings.
Survivor Rohit Ram recounted how he narrowly escaped death by jumping out of a window after confronting a tusker with a frying pan. His quick action allowed him to alert neighbours and potentially prevent further casualties. The incident has reignited concerns over escalating human-elephant conflict in parts of Jharkhand, particularly in forest-adjacent regions such as Gomia in Ramgarh, where similar fatal attacks have been reported in recent months.
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