Two more persons trampled to death by herd of elephants at Chakulia

Jamshedpur, Feb 3: Following death of a 45-year-old man, two more persons were trampled to death by a herd of elephants at Bankati village under Chakulia thana area in the Ghatshila sub-division of the district.�Those killed today were identified as Kalyani Sabar (29) and Bisha Sabar (5), both residents of Bankati village.�Regional chief conservator of forest (RCCF), Kolhan, Vishwanath Shah confirmed about the two elephant trampled deaths in Chakulia today.�He stated that the forest department has already paid Rs 25,000 as compensation to the kin of those killed.

About 26 deaths have taken place across Kolhan comprising twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan district in one year due to elephant trampling.�According to sources, of the 20 deaths 17 were caused by the lone tuskers, prompting the forest department to develop new methods to prevent for saving oneself from�such attack.�Kolhan has six forest divisions sharing border�with the Odisha�on the one side and Bengal in the other side and movement of wild elephants is common activity.
�A forest official admitted that the movement of elephants from one forest division to another and from Jharkhand to neighbouring Odisha, Bengal and Chhatishgar has increased during the past one year.
“We are aware about the situation. The movement of elephants has increased as habitat of the elephants has also increased due to various development projects, including road and dam construction, resulting in elephants trampling deaths here in Kolhan,” he noted .