Tragedy struck the Khunti district of Jharkhand as a herd of elephants attacked a village, demolishing a home and claiming the lives of a mother and her young son. The incident highlights the growing danger of elephant attacks in areas bordering the state’s forests.
The Jariagarh police station area witnessed the horrific event as elephants stormed into Bakaspur village’s Railway Station Toli late Wednesday night. The elephants brought down a house, trapping its occupants under the debris. Etwari Barla and her 4-year-old son, Tulsi Barla, were killed in the collapse. Their 8-year-old daughter was seriously injured and rushed to a local hospital for treatment.
Following the initial destruction, the elephants attacked an elderly woman sleeping outside another home, lifting her with their trunks. She was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries.
The house of farmer Dodeya Barla was the primary target of the elephant herd. They destroyed the walls, resulting in the death of Etwari Barla and her son. Their daughter, Bandhani Barla, is now receiving care at Khunti’s Sadar Hospital.
Local residents expressed their anger over the incident, despite the financial assistance offered by the forest department. They called for the implementation of more effective preventative measures.
This event is one of many such tragedies in Jharkhand. In March, four villagers lost their lives in elephant attacks in Gumla and Simdega districts. The victims included Christopher Ekka, Hemvati Devi, Sibia Lugun, and Vikas Ohdar.