Single elephant rampage claims 13 lives in two days, panic in Jharkhand

At least 13 people have been killed and four others injured in attacks by a single wild elephant over the last two days in Jharkhand, triggering widespread
panic in West Singhbhum district.
Forest department officials said the adult male elephant entered areas under the Noamundi and Hatgamhariya police station limits on Sunday night and trampled six people to death, including four members of the same family.
A day earlier, the same elephant killed seven people, including three members of another family, in the Kolhan region.
In response, a 10-member expert team from Bankura district of West Bengal has been deployed to track the animal and drive it back into forest areas.
Intensive monitoring and mitigation measures are under way. Due to elephant movement near railway tracks, six pairs of trains have been cancelled in the Chakradharpur railway division as a safety precaution.
The forest department has announced an initial compensation of Rs. 20,000 each to the families of those killed.
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda and leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party criticised the forest department for failing to prevent repeated attacks.
With the latest incidents, officials said the death toll from elephant attacks in West Singhbhum district has risen to 17 in the past week.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain indoors at night and follow safety advisories until the elephant is safely relocated.