Panic has gripped parts of Jharkhand as a spate of fatal elephant attacks continues, with a lone tusker in Hazaribag claiming its second human life in two days. This incident comes even as a separate rogue elephant in West Singhbhum district has reportedly killed 19 people in just over a week, highlighting a severe and escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region.
Second Fatal Attack in Hazaribag
The latest victim in Hazaribag has been identified as 57-year-old farmer Ganesh Gope. The tragic incident occurred early on Friday morning in Banha village, which falls under the Katkamdag police station area. According to officials, Gope stepped out of his house around 5 am for his morning routine when a wild elephant, which had separated from its herd, suddenly attacked him. The farmer died on the spot from the injuries sustained.
This attack followed another by the same elephant just a day earlier, on Thursday, when it trampled a different farmer to death and injured his wife. The consecutive incidents have spread immense fear among residents of the area.
Compensation and Official Response
Forest department officials stated that, as per standard norms, a compensation of Rs 4 lakh is payable to the next of kin of the deceased. An immediate relief amount of Rs 50,000 was handed over to the family for conducting the last rites. The remaining sum of Rs 3.5 lakh will be released after the completion of necessary formalities.
Ganesh Gope is survived by his wife, Rohni Devi, four daughters, and a son. The local administration is now under pressure to address the recurring crisis. Sadar MLA Pradip Prasad has directed the forest department to devise a concrete and permanent solution to the human-elephant conflict. The MLA also held discussions with the deputy commissioner, Shashi Prakash Singh, regarding the urgent matter.
Villagers' Frustration and Forest Department's Stance
Residents of the affected villages have expressed anger and frustration, alleging negligence on part of the authorities. They reported that a herd of elephants has been roaming in and around the Katkamdag block for several days. Despite repeated alerts to the forest department, villagers claim no effective measures were taken to drive the animals back to the forest or secure human settlements.
In response, Forest Range Officer Satendra Kumar Chaudhary stated that teams are on high alert and efforts are ongoing to push the stray elephant back towards the forest. "We are appealing to villagers to remain cautious and alert," Chaudhary said, emphasizing the department's efforts to manage the situation.
The twin tragedies in Hazaribag, coupled with the devastating rampage in West Singhbhum, have brought the critical issue of human-elephant conflict in Jharkhand into sharp focus, demanding immediate and effective intervention from the state government and forest authorities.
