Elephant herd kills three of a family in Jharkhand’s Bokaro village

Three members of a family were trampled to death after a herd of elephants entered Barkipunnu village in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district in the early hours of Thursday, triggering panic among residents.

The incident occurred around 3 am under Mahuadanr police station limits , when a herd of five elephants strayed into the village and targeted a house in search of stored paddy. The elephants damaged a portion of the house , forcing the family members to rush out in fear. As they attempted to escape in the darkness, they were chased and trampled to death outside the house , forest officials said.

According to Bokaro divisional forest officer Sandeep Sinde , the herd had been roaming in the Barkipunnu area for several days, keeping villagers on edge. Following the incident, forest and police teams reached the spot, and locals were advised to remain indoors as a precaution. Sinde said the process of compensation for the victims’ families has been initiated .

Officials and wildlife experts say such tragedies are linked to shrinking forest habitats, disrupted elephant corridors and the growing proximity of villages to forest zones. The government has been relying on rapid response teams, tracking of elephant movement and early warning measures, but experts stress that long-term solutions such as protecting wildlife corridors and improving forest food and water sources are essential to prevent further loss of life.