Three members of a family in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district were fatally trampled by an elephant herd, with two others sustaining serious injuries. The tragic incident occurred in Barkipunnu village, sparking panic and sorrow among residents. The elephants initially entered the village on Wednesday evening but were driven back to the forest by villagers.
The same herd returned in the early hours of Thursday, causing chaos and resulting in the deaths of Ganga Karmali, Kamli Devi, and Bhagiya Devi. The injured family members are receiving treatment at a nearby hospital under close medical supervision. The village is mourning the loss, deeply affected by the unfortunate event.
Residents highlighted a recent surge in elephant activity in the area, attributing the lack of preventive measures to the tragic encounters. This incident follows a similar attack on January 25, where Karamchand Soren lost his life in Darhabera village. Despite assurances from state officials to address the issue, questions have been raised regarding the Forest Department’s readiness and effectiveness in handling such situations.
The rise in human-elephant conflicts in Jharkhand has led to over 18 fatalities since the beginning of the year, emphasizing the urgent need for concrete measures to mitigate further loss of life.
