Chaibasa: The growing threat of wild elephants in West Singhbhum district continued unabated as a tragic elephant attack in the Goilkera block claimed three lives late Monday night. The incident has once again highlighted the escalating human-elephant conflict in the region.
According to local sources, the attack occurred around 10:30 pm when a wild elephant entered a residential area and attacked a family. The victims—a father, his son, and daughter—died on the spot, while another child sustained critical injuries and was rushed for emergency medical treatment. The incident has sent shockwaves across nearby villages.
The deceased have been identified as Kundra Bahdan, Kodma Bahdan, and Samu Bahdan. Another child of the family, Jingi Bahdan, sustained serious head injuries during the attack. She was initially treated at a local health facility and later referred to Rourkela in Odisha for advanced medical care due to her critical condition.
Following the incident, a forest department team reached the spot and conducted an assessment. Immediate relief assistance of Rs. 20,000 was provided to the families of the deceased, and necessary documentation was completed.
Local residents expressed deep concern over the recurring elephant attacks in the region. According to villagers, at least 13 people have lost their lives due to elephant-related incidents in the area so far, with six deaths reported from the Goilkera block alone. The repeated attacks have created an atmosphere of fear and panic, forcing residents to remain indoors after nightfall.
Villagers alleged that despite repeated complaints and alerts, effective measures to control elephant movement have not been implemented. They questioned the preparedness and response of the forest department and demanded immediate, concrete, and long-term solutions to address the growing human–elephant conflict in the affected areas.
The recurring elephant attacks in West Singhbhum have intensified demands for stronger mitigation strategies, including early warning systems, improved fencing, and coordinated efforts between forest officials and local communities.
