A tragic incident of human-elephant conflict resulted in the death of a 50-year-old villager in the early hours of Sunday near Jamshedpur. The victim, identified as Buka Mahato, was attacked and killed by a stray elephant in Nutandih village, which falls under the Kukru police station limits in the Seraikela-Kharsawan district.
Details of the Fatal Elephant Attack
The fatal encounter occurred when Buka Mahato had gone to the fields to attend to nature's call. According to accounts from local villagers shared with forest officials, the elephant suddenly charged at him. The animal reportedly used its trunk to grab Buka and threw him into the air. He sustained severe injuries upon falling and died on the spot before any help could arrive.
Foresters explained that the elephant had inadvertently strayed into the village after getting separated from its herd. The herd had wandered into the Kukru forest area from the neighboring state of West Bengal.
Official Response and Compensation
Shashi Prakash, the Chandil forest ranger, visited the bereaved family in the morning. He provided an immediate relief of Rs 50,000 to assist with the last rites. Prakash further stated that an ex gratia payment of Rs 3.50 lakh has been approved and will be released to the family once the necessary legal formalities are completed.
In response to the escalating conflict, the forest department has taken immediate preventive measures. "We have distributed battery torches and crackers to the villagers to help drive away elephants. Moreover, our team has been deployed in the area," said Ranger Prakash.
Ongoing Human-Elephant Conflict in the Region
This incident is not isolated. Sunil Mahato, a Zila Parishad member, highlighted that elephant rampages are a continuing menace in the villages under the Chandil forest range. In recent months, areas within the Ichagarh, Kukru, and Nimdih blocks have been severely affected.
The conflict has a dual impact, causing both loss of human life and significant agricultural damage. Elephants have been destroying crops and vegetables in large quantities, compounding the distress for local farming communities already living in fear.
The incident underscores the urgent need for sustainable, long-term solutions to mitigate human-elephant conflict in this region of Jharkhand, where wildlife corridors and human settlements increasingly intersect.
