In 8 hrs, toll touches four in Ramgarh elephant attacks

Ramgarh: A total number of four persons has been trampled to death by an elephant since Tuesday evening. The elephant, which was part of a herd of eight, turned violent after it was hit by an arrow on its leg at Ara 4-Number under West Bokaro police station limits in Ramgarh district on Tuesday, forest officials said.

The victims included Amit Kumar Rajwar (32), a Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) security guard from Ichakdih in Kedla, who was trampled to death while trying to capture a selfie with the elephant around 4 pm on Tuesday. Amul Mahto of Dari in Hazaribag district was killed while he was on way to Ghato in Ramgarh around 10pm on Tuesday. Two elderly women, Kaniya Devi (85) and Savitri Devi (65), were trampled half-an-hour later.


Divisional forest officer (DFO) Nitish Kumar said, “We have deployed four quick response teams (QRT) to maintain a watch on the elephants to prevent from venturing into human habitation. More teams from other districts are likely to join us.”

A forest ranger of Mandu block, Bateshwar Paswan, said, “The elephant became violent after it was hit with an arrow by someone in one of its leg.”

Officials said 42 elephants are roaming in several groups across Ramgarh and Bokaro districts, including a herd of eight in Ara-Sarubera under Mandu block. A herd was driven away from near a CCL coal project by villagers with the help of firecrackers, long-range flash torch, torches, and drums a few days ago.

The forest department officials advised people to remain indoors at night and to be cautious while travelling on Kedla, Ghato, and Chainpur roads in Mandu block. He warned residents that the herd could move on to roads and into populated areas.

Meanwhile, hundreds of villagers blocked the road near Ara 4-Number Petrol Pump Chowk that connects Kedla, Ghato, and Lalpaia in Bokaro for around six hours on Wednesday morning, demanding compensation for the family members of the deceased and measures to ensure safety from the elephants. A protester, Khalko Mahto, said, “Elephants are increasingly become a menace in this colliery area. People engaged in coal mines fear going to work at night due to the movements of elephants. Forest department must do something.”

Officials gave Rs 25,000 as compensation to the kin of each deceased. The remaining amount of Rs 3.5 lakh would be given to the family members after paper works are completed, they said.