Rogue Elephant Creates Panic in Hazaribag Village
Panic spread through Shiladiha village in Hazaribag's Barkatha block late Friday night. A lone elephant, separated from its herd, went on a destructive rampage. The animal damaged property and destroyed crops, leaving villagers terrified.
Path of Destruction Across Multiple Blocks
This elephant reportedly killed two people in different blocks of Hazaribag district before reaching Tatijharia four days ago. There, it damaged crops, houses, boundary walls, and drip irrigation systems. The animal then moved to Barkatha on Friday night, continuing its destructive path.
In Shiladiha village, the elephant broke through the boundary wall and gate of resident Jumman Mandal's house. It also destroyed crops in the area. Fortunately, no villagers suffered injuries during these incidents.
Village Response and Official Action
Frightened villagers immediately informed local authorities. Panchayat samiti member Rajkumar Giri visited the site on Saturday to assess the damage. Another member, Shamim Ansari, revealed that villagers had already received alerts about the elephant's movement through WhatsApp groups.
"This elephant has strayed from its herd and reportedly killed two people earlier," Ansari warned. "People need to remain extremely cautious." He urged the administration to take immediate steps to drive the animal away from populated areas.
Forest Department Deploys Monitoring Team
Forest officer Pankaj Kumar confirmed that authorities have deployed a team to monitor and chase the elephant away from human settlements. Kumar appealed to residents to stay alert and avoid going outside their homes at night until the situation returns to normal.
The forest department's team continues to track the elephant's movements while working to ensure community safety. Villagers remain on high alert as authorities work to resolve this dangerous situation.
