A tragic incident unfolded in Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district as six people, including four members of one family, were trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants. The elephants, which have been causing havoc in recent days, struck in the Gondwar village of Churchu block early on Friday.
Hazaribag East Divisional Forest Officer Vikas Kumar Ujjwal confirmed the casualties, noting that the elephants had been roaming the region, previously causing deaths in Bokaro district. Despite public warnings, the panic led to six fatalities as villagers attempted to flee.
The state officials have initiated compensation procedures, offering Rs four lakh to each victim’s family and Rs 25,000 for funeral costs. A quick response team has been dispatched to manage the situation, while local leaders highlight ongoing issues attributed to illegal mining and habitat disruption as contributing to the increasing human-elephant conflicts.
(With inputs from agencies.)