Wild Elephant Kills Five In Three Days In Jharkhand’s Goilkera; Panic Grips Villages

Villagers reported that a wild elephant caused panic in Goilkera, claiming five lives in separate incidents over three days.

Monday night saw the latest tragedy when the tusker attacked a family while they slept, leaving three dead and one seriously injured.

Officials confirmed that the elephant began demolishing the house of Kundra Bahda, forcing the family to flee in panic.

Tragically, Kundra Bahda, his son Kodma Bahda, and his daughter Samu Bahda were trampled to death.

Another child, Jingi Bahda, suffered severe head injuries and was first treated locally before being referred to Rourkela, Odisha, for specialised care.

Authorities stated that on Sunday night, 56-year-old Jonga Kui was killed in Bila Kundukocha village after the elephant attacked her home while she slept. Her husband, Chandramohan Laguri, narrowly survived the incident.

On Friday night, a 13-year-old boy, Renga Kaiyam, was trampled while sleeping in a barn near Saiyatwa forest in Chaibasa.

Forest officials tracked the tusker across Goilkera and nearby areas for several days. A 10-member expert team from West Bengal was deployed on Monday to drive the elephant back into the forest and reduce the risk to villagers.

Data shows that 13 people have died in elephant attacks in West Singhbhum in the past two months, with six deaths reported in Goilkera alone.

Experts highlighted that human encroachment into forest areas and loss of elephant habitats are major causes of the conflicts.

Villagers expressed fear and frustration, demanding permanent solutions and quick compensation for affected families.

Alarming Statewide Data

According to reports by the Wildlife Institute of India, Jharkhand recorded 1,740 elephant attack incidents between 2000 and 2023. As a result, these attacks led to 1,340 human deaths.

Nearly 200 people have reportedly died in elephant attacks across the state between 2023 and 2025. This highlights the ongoing challenges of coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Authorities continue monitoring the situation closely while coordinating with local communities. Officials urged forest departments to safeguard villagers and address the larger issue of habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict in Jharkhand.

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