PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, January 6: Panic and grief gripped Goelkera block in West Singhbhum late Monday night after a wild elephant went on a rampage, killing three members of a family and critically injuring a young girl.
The incident occurred around 10:30 pm, sending shockwaves across the region.
Father, Son and Daughter Killed
The victims have been identified as Kundra Bahadan, Kodma Bahadan and Samu Bahadan—a father, son and daughter—who were trampled to death in the sudden attack.
Another child of the family, Jingen Bahadan, sustained serious head injuries and was rushed to a nearby health centre. Due to the severity of her condition, she was later referred to Rourkela in Odisha for advanced treatment.
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Forest Department Reaches Spot
Soon after the incident, a forest department team reached the site to assess the situation. As immediate relief, an ex-gratia amount of Rs 20,000 was provided to the bereaved family, and necessary formalities were initiated.
Rising Human-Elephant Conflict
Local residents said incidents of human casualties due to elephant attacks have been rising alarmingly in the area. So far, 13 people have lost their lives in such attacks, with six deaths reported from the Goelkera block alone.
The repeated incidents have triggered fear among villagers, forcing them to live in constant anxiety, especially after nightfall.
Villagers Seek Permanent Solution
Despite repeated complaints and alerts, villagers allege that effective measures to control elephant movement are still lacking. They have urged the administration and the forest department to implement permanent and robust solutions to prevent further loss of human lives in elephant-prone areas.
