RANCHI: A wild elephant, which had been separated from its herd, crushed a 60- year man, Vijay Singh, to death late in the night on Tuesday in Garhwa. In the last four days, wild tuskers roaming in the region have killed as many as three people, besides damaging several properties and crops.
According to local sources, a lone tusker demolished the wall of Vijay Singh's house, who was crushed by the debris while sleeping. The incident took place at Nagari village under Ranka Police Station in Garhwa.
“An elephant separated from the herd today entered Nagari village of Ranka police station area and demolished a house. In this incident, an elderly person sleeping inside the house died a painful death,” said a local requesting anonymity.
People are frustrated as such incidents continue to happen quite frequently and no concrete initiative has been taken by the government so far to drive away the elephants, he added.
Forester Animesh Kumar informed that, though an initial sum of Rs 50, 000 had been given to the family members of the victim, the rest of the amount, 3.5 lakh, will be provided soon to his nearest family member.
Due to frequent elephant attacks, people are fearful. The villagers informed that the elephants are wreaking havoc in the region and the forest department is not addressing the issue.
On Sunday night, wild elephants wreaked havoc at Chirka village under Chiniya police station and brutally crushed two people to death. The deceased have been identified as Pramila Devi, 40, and Sudhir Soreng, 35.
Notably, due to rampant cutting of forests, elephants and other wild animals are entering the village and damaging living beings and properties.
Palamu MP VD Ram said that this problem is unique to in Jharkhand, but the same as in many other places in the country. He has raised the issue in the House, he said, further adding that, “Action will definitely be taken in this regard very soon.”