Elephant Attack Claims Life in Kukru, Villagers Block Road, Demand Action

Jamshedpur: In a tragic incident, a 50-year-old man was killed in an elephant attack in Kukru block under the Chandil forest division. The deceased, identified as Muniram Gorai of Letemda village, was reportedly attacked by a wild elephant on Sunday evening around 7 PM.

Ambush Near Forest Area
According to family members, Gorai had stepped out towards the nearby forest when a wild elephant, believed to be hiding in the area, suddenly attacked him. Despite villagers rushing to the spot after hearing his cries, the elephant had already trampled him to death before retreating into the forest.

Villagers Allege Negligence
Residents claimed that a herd of elephants had entered the Letemda forest area a day earlier and that the Forest Department had been informed. However, no timely action was taken, such as deploying a drive team or issuing warnings. Villagers alleged that the lack of preventive measures led to the fatal incident.

Protest and Road Blockade
Following the death, angry villagers staged a protest by placing the body on the road and blocking the main Chandil–Kukru route. They demanded immediate compensation for the bereaved family and strict action against officials for alleged negligence.

Forest Department Responds
Officials from the Forest Department stated that compensation of ₹4 lakh would be provided to the victim’s family as per government norms after completion of post-mortem formalities. They also confirmed that a drive team has been deployed to push the elephants away from the inhabited areas.

Rising Human-Elephant Conflict
The incident has once again highlighted the growing human-elephant conflict in the Ichagarh-Kukru region, where villagers continue to live under constant threat. Notably, this is the second fatal elephant attack reported in the region within the past 15 days, intensifying concerns over safety and wildlife management.