The Khunti district of Jharkhand is reeling from a devastating elephant attack where a house was demolished, resulting in the tragic deaths of a mother and her young son. The incident occurred in the Jariagarh police station area, highlighting the ongoing issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region.
A herd of elephants stormed into Bakaspur village’s Railway Station Toli late Wednesday night. They targeted a house, collapsing its structure and trapping the occupants. Etwari Barla and her 4-year-old son, Tulsi Barla, were killed when the house collapsed on them. An 8-year-old daughter of the deceased woman sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital for medical attention.
The elephants’ rampage extended beyond the initial attack. They also targeted an elderly woman sleeping outside another house, lifting her with their trunks before dropping her. Fortunately, she escaped with minor injuries.
Farmer Dodeya Barla’s house was the primary target of the elephant herd. The animals pushed down the house’s walls, causing the roof to collapse on the family inside. Etwari Barla and her son lost their lives in the incident. The injured daughter, Bandhani Barla, is currently receiving treatment at the Sadar Hospital in Khunti.
The local community expressed their outrage over the incident. While the forest department provided financial aid to the affected family, residents criticized the lack of effective measures to prevent such attacks.
This event is part of a larger pattern of elephant attacks in Jharkhand. In March, herds of elephants killed four people in Gumla and Simdega districts. The victims were identified as Christopher Ekka, Hemvati Devi, Sibia Lugun, and Vikas Ohdar.