Wild tuskers wreak havoc in Jharkhand, kill 9
Ranchi/Lohardaga/UNI: Over the last two days, wild elephants have created havoc in Jharkhand, killing nine people including women, injuring many others, and destroying homes and crops.
Wild tuskers in Ranchi district killed four people on Tuesday in Bodeya and Gadgaon villages in Itki block after separating from their group.
Two others were injured in the incident.
The victims of the elephant attack included Sukhveer Kindo, Punai Oraon, Radwa Dewi, and Goyenda Oraon.
According to a locality resident, two elephants came out of the forest towards the village in the Itki police station area and got separated on the way. One of them, who remained in Garhgaon, killed four people in the village.
As the information spread, a team of the forest department and police reached the spot.
Despite the district administration's directive not to do so, the entire village gathered to see the elephant.
In wake of the incident of the Man-Elephant Conflict as part of precautionary measures, the Ranchi district administration has imposed section 144 in the Itki block from 11 AM on Tuesday till further orders.
The wild tusker, which killed four people on Monday, inflicted more casualties on Tuesday in the Bhandra block of Lohardaga district.
The deceased Chandmani Orain along with her two-month-old baby had gone to answer nature’s call in the morning when she was caught by the elephant who threw her and the child on the ground leaving the woman dead.
However, the tusker did not trample the toddler and went towards the forest.
DFO Lohardaga Arvind Kumar said that the elephant has got separated from the group and therefore it has become more dangerous. He said that a team of 20 people is trying to control the tusker and apart from a team from Ranchi a group which specializes in scaring away the animal has been called from Bankura of West Bengal.
He said that as per the government provision, a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each will be provided to the kin of the deceased.
He has urged the people not to tease the elephant as they will become more aggressive.