PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Dec 18: Widespread anger and fear gripped Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district on Wednesday after four people were killed in separate wild elephant attacks within a single day, prompting residents to pour onto the streets in protest.
Sources said enraged villagers blocked the Ghato area for several hours, raising slogans against the district administration and the forest department, whom they accused of negligence.
The blockade disrupted traffic on the Ramgarh–Kedla Main Road and adjoining routes, causing major inconvenience to commuters.
The fatalities occurred between Tuesday evening and late night within the Ghato police station area.
The victims were identified as Amit Rajwar (33), Amul Mahto (35), Parvati Devi (40), and Savitri Devi (45).
News of the back-to-back deaths spread rapidly, triggering panic across nearby villages, with many residents choosing to remain indoors overnight.
According to locals, the first incident took place around 4 pm on Tuesday near the Ara Number Four Feeder Breaker.
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A herd of elephants was resting by the roadside when villagers gathered to watch them.
Some reportedly attempted to chase the animals away, provoking one elephant that charged the crowd.
Rajwar, who was returning home to Ichakdih after his shift at Sarubera Colliery, was trampled to death.
The attack led to chaos, forcing heavy vehicle drivers to abandon their vehicles and flee.
A few hours later, Mahto, a resident of Giddi, was killed in another elephant attack.
The situation deteriorated further late at night when Parvati Devi and Savitri Devi were trampled to death by the same herd.
The incidents have shaken the region, with protesters alleging that authorities have failed to implement effective, long-term measures to prevent elephants from entering human settlements.
Villagers demanded immediate action to restrict elephant movement to forest areas, strengthen early-warning systems, and ensure swift and adequate compensation for the victims’ families.
Reacting to the tragedy, Sumanth Bindumadhav, Director of Wildlife Team at Humane World for Animals India, said the incident underscored the dangers of approaching wild animals.
He cautioned that elephants are not tourist attractions and warned against attempting selfies or videos near wildlife, urging people to maintain safe distances and follow forest department advisories to ensure peaceful human–elephant coexistence.
