A tragic incident in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district has once again highlighted the deadly human-elephant conflict plaguing the region. A 50-year-old farmer was trampled to death, and his wife sustained serious injuries when a wild elephant attacked them as they tried to protect their tomato harvest in the early hours of Thursday.
Night of Terror in the Tomato Field
The victims, identified as Aditya Rana and his wife Shanti Devi, were residents of Chutiyaro village under the Mufassil police station limits. Like many farmers facing crop raids, the couple was sleeping in a makeshift shelter on their farm to guard their produce. According to locals, when a lone elephant entered their field and began destroying the tomato crop, the brave couple attempted to chase the massive animal away.
This act of defiance proved fatal. The elephant turned aggressive and charged at them. Aditya Rana bore the brunt of the attack and was trampled, dying on the spot. His wife, Shanti Devi, managed to escape but suffered grave injuries in the process. The couple's screams alerted nearby villagers, who rushed to help, but the elephant had already fled towards the forest by the time they arrived.
Aftermath and Official Response
Shanti Devi was quickly taken to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College and Hospital (SBMCH) for emergency treatment. Dr. Abhishek Kumar, a surgeon at SBMCH, later confirmed that her condition was stable and she was out of danger. Meanwhile, the police, led by Officer-in-Charge Roshan Kumar of Mufassil police station, have advised locals to remain vigilant, especially at night.
Forest department officials also responded to the tragedy. DFO (East) Vikash Kumar Ujjwal informed that his team was actively monitoring the movements of the lone elephant responsible for the attack, which had been camping in the Silwar area until late evening. He issued a stern warning, urging people not to risk their lives by sleeping in their fields. "Our department compensates for crops damaged by elephants," Kumar stated, emphasizing that it is not worth endangering lives when there is information about an elephant's presence in the area.
A Grim Pattern of Human-Elephant Conflict
This death is not an isolated event but the latest in a string of fatalities caused by human-elephant conflicts in Jharkhand. The situation is particularly alarming in other parts of the state. In a shocking parallel incident, another lone elephant in West Singhbhum district has reportedly killed 17 people in just one week.
These recurring tragedies underscore a critical and escalating problem where wildlife corridors are shrinking, forcing elephants into human settlements and farmland in search of food. The conflict results in immense loss for both sides—precious human lives and livelihoods lost, and elephants often meeting a painful end due to retaliation or accidents.
The incident in Hazaribag serves as a somber reminder of the urgent need for effective, long-term strategies to mitigate this conflict, ensuring the safety of both communities and the majestic wildlife that shares their landscape.
