Wild Elephant Attacks Village Near Chandil Dam; Damages House, Injures Woman

Seraikela: Panic has gripped villages in the Chandil dam displaced area as incidents of wild elephant attacks continue to rise. Villagers have accused the Forest Department of failing to control the situation.

The latest incident took place in Adardih Chouka village under Ichadih panchayat in Kukru block.

Rakesh Ranjan Mahato, president of the Visthapit Adhikar Manch Foundation, said a wild elephant entered the village around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday and created havoc.

The elephant badly damaged the house of village head Gurupad Gop while he and his family were asleep inside. As the animal broke parts of the house, panic spread among family members. Gurupad Gop somehow managed to evacuate his wife, married daughter, and young children to safety.

The elephant destroyed food grains stored inside the house and scattered rice kept in containers and sacks. It also damaged household items and destroyed important documents and belongings kept inside a trunk.

Gurupad Gop’s wife suffered serious injuries in the incident. She sustained internal chest injuries and suffered continuous bleeding from her leg. Family members rushed her for medical treatment.

Villagers blamed the Jharkhand government and the Forest Department for negligence. They alleged that despite the presence of Elephant Drive Teams and Quick Response Teams (QRT), officials have failed to prevent elephant attacks. Residents claimed that response teams often fail to arrive on time, even after receiving information.

Rakesh Ranjan Mahato demanded immediate compensation for the affected family, free treatment for the injured woman, and the deployment of a permanent elephant-control team in the village.

Villagers also warned of protests if authorities fail to take quick action.

Residents of Chandil subdivision have intensified demands to declare elephant-prone villages in Kukru, Ichagarh, and Chandil blocks as “red zones” and issue warnings through public announcements and hoardings.