Human–Elephant Conflict Deepens in Jharkhand, Five Humans and Two Elephants Dead in a Week

Ranchi- Jharkhand is witnessing a worrying surge in human–elephant confrontations, with five individuals losing their lives in separate attacks over the past week, while two female elephants — one pregnant — were discovered dead under unclear circumstances.

The most recent attack occurred on Sunday night when a herd of nearly 15 elephants stormed Kharkanda village in the Jageshwar OP area of Bokaro district around 11 p.m. The animals went on a destructive rampage for hours, killing 45-year-old Sanjho Devi and damaging 25 to 30 houses. A car, a tempo, and stored food grains were also destroyed or consumed.

Residents said the attack happened so swiftly that many fled to their rooftops for safety.
A forest department unit arrived later but found widespread damage worth several thousand rupees. Villagers are calling for immediate compensation and stronger security measures.

Just days earlier, two youths — Prakash Mahato and Charku Mahato — were fatally trampled by elephants near the Tilaiya underground railway crossing. Both were caught unaware in a dark forested stretch.

Another fatal incident took place last Tuesday in Chatra district, where 43-year-old Nakul Oraon was killed. On Saturday night, 40-year-old farmer Chhotan Munda of Lurungi village in Ranchi district died while trying to drive away a wild elephant. Villagers blocked NH-75 the next morning, demanding compensation and a government job for his family. The blockade ended after the Forest Department provided an immediate relief of ?25,000 and promised further help.

Meanwhile, the deaths of two elephants in West Singhbhum on Friday have raised alarm among officials. Their decomposed carcasses were found in Juginanda Tola following complaints of a foul stench. According to Ranger Jitendra Prasad Singh, the cause of death is still unknown, though the elephants likely died two to three days earlier. Postmortems have been completed and viscera samples sent for forensic analysis.

With inputs from IANS