Hazaribag Elephant Rampage: Crops Damaged, Villagers Fearful as Lone Jumbo Returns

Hazaribag: Even as villagers are spending sleepless nights in West Singhbhum bordering Odisha, fearing that the rogue elephant that killed 20 people in the district would return, panic prevailed in the Tatijharia block of Hazaribag district after a lone wild elephant, separated from its herd, went on a rampage at Bedmakka village under the Khaira panchayat for the second consecutive day.

Though no fatalities are reported, the elephant, however, caused extensive damage to standing crops and drip irrigation systems. The jumbo entered the area via Godhiya village of the same Tatijharia block, forcing the villagers to live in constant fear, according to the residents there.


The elephant damaged fields belonging to farmers Manoj Kumar and Krishna Kumar, trampling cash crops and destroying drip irrigation pipes and machines laid for irrigation. Manoj said, “Agriculture is our sole source of livelihood, and the losses will push us further into financial distress.” Other villagers said the elephant has now moved from Khaira towards the forests of Barkatha block, but their fear continues to loom large.

Locals apprehended that loud sound and noise from the ongoing Suryakund fair in Barkatha could anger the animal, prompting it to return towards the Tatijharia villages again.

Given the aggressive behaviour of the elephant, villagers are worried about further damage to crops, houses, and possible loss of life. They urged the forest department to intensify patrolling in the area and ensure the animal is safely driven away, besides providing immediate compensation for the losses suffered.

Commenting on the development, forester Sanjeet Ravidas said, “We are keeping an eye on the movement of the elephant. We are trying to process compensation soon for the losses incurred by the villagers.” Notably, this lone elephant had killed two persons in the villages of the district last week. It killed a villager of Chutiyaro under the Muffasil police station of the sadar block early in the morning of Jan 8. The second villager killed was from Banha under the Katkamdag police station and block on Jan 10.