Elephant Suddenly Appears on Road in Chakulia, Chases Down Businessman

Chakulia: Panic gripped villagers after a wild elephant brutally attacked a vegetable vendor near Baramara village under the Chakulia forest range on Monday night. The victim, identified as Nilkanth Nayak of Guhiyapal village in the Baharagora block, sustained serious injuries after being lifted and thrown to the ground by the elephant.

According to local sources, Nilkanth Nayak was returning home on his motorcycle after attending the Joram Haat in the Chakulia block when the incident took place along the forest road near Baramara village.

Elephant Emerges Suddenly From Forest

Eyewitnesses said a giant elephant suddenly emerged onto the main road from the nearby forest area. Frightened by the unexpected encounter, Nilkanth abandoned his motorcycle and attempted to run away to save himself.

However, the elephant reportedly chased him, grabbed him with its trunk, and violently slammed him onto the ground, leaving him critically injured with severe head and internal injuries.

MLA Samir Mohanty Rushes Victim to Hospital

After the incident, local villagers immediately informed area MLA Samir Mohanty about the attack. Responding swiftly, the MLA reached the spot and personally transported the injured man in his own vehicle to the Chakulia Community Health Centre (CHC).

Doctors at the CHC, including Dr. R.N. Sharma, provided first aid treatment to the victim. Due to the critical nature of his injuries, doctors later referred him to Jhargram Hospital in neighboring West Bengal for advanced medical care.

Rising Human-Elephant Conflict Raises Concern

The incident has once again highlighted the growing crisis of human-elephant conflict across Jharkhand, especially in forested and rural belts of Kolhan and adjoining regions.

According to official data from the Forest Department and wildlife conservation agencies, more than 85 people lost their lives in elephant attacks across Jharkhand over the past year. The highest number of casualties has been reported from East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and other forest-dominated areas where elephant movement frequently overlaps with human settlements.

Compensation and Safety Measures

Forest Department officials stated that the government provides compensation of ₹4 lakh to the families of victims killed in elephant attacks. Injured persons are also entitled to free medical treatment and assistance under wildlife conflict relief schemes.

Residents in the Chakulia forest belt have demanded stronger preventive measures, including increased forest patrolling, elephant tracking systems, and public alert mechanisms to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.