PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Jan 7: The menace of wild elephants in Chaibasa took a chilling turn as five members of a single family were trampled to death by a rampaging tusker late Tuesday night.
The incident has pushed the death toll from elephant attacks in the district to 17 in just one week, triggering widespread fear and shock across the region.
Elephant Storms Into Village at Night
According to eyewitnesses, the family was fast asleep when the wild elephant entered the village under the cover of darkness.
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The tusker attacked their house, smashing walls and causing extensive damage before barging inside.
Entire Family Crushed to Death
In the brutal assault, a husband, his wife and their three young children were trampled to death on the spot.
One child of the family reportedly managed to escape, narrowly surviving the horrific incident.
By morning, villagers and local administrative officials rushed to the site. News of the tragedy spread quickly, casting a pall of gloom over the village.
Scenes of grief unfolded as residents struggled to come to terms with the scale of the loss and the recurring threat posed by wild elephants.
Anger Grows Over Safety Measures
Fear and anger are mounting among villagers, who say the situation has become unbearable. They allege that measures taken by the forest department to curb elephant movement and prevent attacks have been grossly inadequate.
Residents have demanded immediate and effective intervention, including strong preventive steps to drive elephants away from human settlements and ensure the safety of people living in vulnerable areas.
As human-elephant conflict continues to intensify in the region, the tragedy has once again highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action, long-term mitigation strategies, and swift relief for affected families.
