Youth tragically killed by wild tusker near Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: In a tragic incident, a 35-year-old youth, identified as Ganesh Kumar, was trampled to death by a wild tusker at Kukdu in Chandil sub-division, approximately 40 km away from Jamshedpur. The incident occurred early on Sunday morning, highlighting the dangers posed by lone rogue elephants in the region.

Ganesh Kumar, a resident of Bakarkudi village in Kukdu block, fell victim to the tusker’s attack while attending to nature’s call near his house. Being partially hearing impaired, he may not have heard the approaching tusker until it was too late to react.

The lone tusker responsible for the tragic incident had separated from a herd still present in the Kukdu block area. Despite the potential danger posed by a solitary wild elephant near human habitats, the forest department reportedly took no action to drive the animal away, even after being aware of its presence.

It was only after the unfortunate death of a villager that a team of forest department officials reached the spot, promising the villagers necessary steps to deal with the rogue elephant. The ranger of the Chandil forest range has initiated the process to compensate the bereaved family of Banka Kumar with Rs 4 lakhs.

This incident raises concerns about the forest department’s apparent negligence in protecting human life and property. The migration season for elephants is underway in the Kolhan region, with several herds in transit, posing a significant threat to human habitats near forest areas. Unfortunately, the forest department’s response seems inadequate in ensuring the safety of villagers. The tragic demise of Ganesh Kumar serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in the region.