by Apurva
Bokaro: A predawn elephant rampage in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district left three members of a family dead and another injured after a herd strayed into Barki Punnu village on Thursday.
The incident occurred around 3 a.m. in the Mahua Tand police station area of Gomia block, when a group of five elephants, reportedly searching for food, entered the courtyard of Gangwa Karmali’s house. According to District Forest Officer Sandeep Shinde, Karmali attempted to flee after spotting the animals but was chased, knocked down, and trampled to death.
Hearing his cries, his wife Kamli Devi rushed outside and tried to escape. Officials said one of the elephants grabbed her with its trunk, threw her to the ground, and crushed her. Another relative, Bhagiya Devi, also attempted to run but was similarly attacked and killed. One additional person sustained serious injuries and was hospitalized.
Forest officials said the herd had moved into the village from adjoining forest areas of Ramgarh district. The region, located in dense forest terrain affected by Naxal activity, has seen repeated human–elephant conflict incidents. Teams have since stepped up efforts to drive the animals back into the forest.
Following the tragedy, villagers staged protests demanding compensation. Authorities stated that ₹4 lakh ex gratia relief would be provided to the families of each deceased victim after post-mortem procedures are completed.
Officials noted that elephant encounters in the Mahua Tand forest zone have turned increasingly deadly, with six fatalities reported in separate incidents over the past month alone, underscoring the growing tension between wildlife movement and human habitation in the region.
