A devastating elephant attack in the Khunti district of Jharkhand has left a community in mourning after a herd of elephants destroyed a home, leading to the deaths of a mother and her young son. The incident underscores the escalating human-animal conflict in the region.
The incident occurred in the Jariagarh police station area, where a group of elephants rampaged through Bakaspur village’s Railway Station Toli late Wednesday night. The elephants demolished a house, causing its collapse and trapping the inhabitants inside. Tragically, Etwari Barla and her 4-year-old son, Tulsi Barla, were killed when the structure crumbled. Their other daughter, aged around 8, was critically injured and is currently receiving medical care.
The elephants continued their destructive path, targeting an elderly woman sleeping outside another home. They lifted her with their trunks and threw her to the ground, but she sustained only minor injuries.
The herd of elephants focused their attack on the house of Dodeya Barla, a farmer from Railway Station Toli. They breached the house’s walls, resulting in the tragic deaths of Etwari and her son. Their daughter, Bandhani Barla, is receiving medical attention at Sadar Hospital in Khunti following the attack.
The local community is expressing anger and frustration, despite the financial aid provided by the forest department. They are demanding more effective measures to prevent future incidents.
This incident adds to a series of fatal elephant attacks in Jharkhand. In March, four villagers lost their lives in similar attacks in the Gumla and Simdega districts. The victims were identified as Christopher Ekka, Hemvati Devi, Sibia Lugun, and Vikas Ohdar.