A tragic sequence of events in Jharkhand's Ramgarh district has left four people dead after a violent elephant trampled them. The incident, which began on Tuesday evening, was triggered when the pachyderm was struck by an arrow, causing it to turn aggressive and attack humans in its path.
Chronology of a Tragedy
The first victim was Amit Kumar Rajwar (32), a security guard for Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) from Ichakdih in Kedla. In a fatal misjudgment, he was attempting to take a selfie with the elephant around 4 pm on Tuesday when he was attacked and killed.
The rampage continued into the night. Amul Mahto of Dari in Hazaribag district became the second victim around 10 pm while he was on his way to Ghato in Ramgarh. Merely thirty minutes later, two elderly women, Kaniya Devi (85) and Savitri Devi (65), were also trampled to death by the same enraged animal.
Official Response and Cause of Violence
Forest officials confirmed that the elephant was part of a herd of eight roaming in the Ara-Sarubera area under Mandu block. The animal's violent behavior was a direct result of being injured. "The elephant became violent after it was hit with an arrow by someone in one of its legs," stated Bateshwar Paswan, a forest ranger of the Mandu block.
In response to the crisis, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar announced the deployment of four quick response teams (QRT) to monitor the elephants and prevent them from entering human settlements. He indicated that more teams from neighboring districts are expected to join the effort.
The officials issued a stern advisory, urging people to remain indoors at night and exercise extreme caution while traveling on the Kedla, Ghato, and Chainpur roads within the Mandu block. They warned that the herd might move onto roads and into populated areas.
Growing Tensions and Villagers' Protest
The incident has heightened long-standing fears in the colliery region, where human-elephant conflict is a recurring menace. On Wednesday morning, the frustration boiled over as hundreds of villagers blocked the road near Ara 4-Number Petrol Pump Chowk for approximately six hours. This crucial junction connects Kedla, Ghato, and Lalpaia in Bokaro.
The protesters had two primary demands: adequate compensation for the families of the deceased and concrete measures to ensure public safety from elephant attacks. "Elephants are increasingly becoming a menace in this colliery area. People engaged in coal mines fear going to work at night due to the movements of elephants. The forest department must do something," said Khalko Mahto, one of the protesters.
Officials have provided an immediate relief of Rs 25,000 to the kin of each deceased. They assured that the remaining amount of the total compensation, Rs 3.5 lakh, would be disbursed after the necessary paperwork is completed.
The broader context reveals a significant challenge: 42 elephants are currently roaming in several groups across Ramgarh and Bokaro districts. Just days before this tragedy, villagers, with the help of firecrackers, long-range flash torches, and drums, had managed to drive away a herd from near a CCL coal project. This latest violent episode underscores the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the human-wildlife conflict in the mineral-rich region of Jharkhand.
