Forest authorities in Jharkhand have stepped up surveillance measures in Bokaro’s Gomia area after repeated incidents involving wild elephants triggered panic among local residents.
Drones are now being used to monitor the movement of elephant herds that have caused widespread destruction and loss of life.
Senior Forest Department officers said a specialised team of 19 wildlife experts from West Bengal has been deployed in the area, supported by six Quick Response Teams (QRTs). The use of drones, they said, has enabled real-time tracking of elephant movement.
“Drone surveillance has revealed that the elephants are currently active around the Luguburu hills,” said an officer, adding that the herd may move towards nearby villages such as Chorgawa, Murpa and Dakasaram in the coming days.
Frequent elephant sightings and a spate of fatal attacks have created fear and anger among villagers. Forest officials have urged locals to cooperate with response teams, particularly after a recent incident in which forest personnel were allegedly held hostage by agitated residents while probing an elephant attack.
Forest officials have appealed to villagers to refrain from such actions, warning that obstructing forest staff could adversely affect ongoing mitigation efforts and lower the morale of frontline workers.
Also read: 2 killed, 4 injured as wild elephants continue rampage in J’khand
According to forest department data, around 42 elephants are currently active in the region. The herd has reportedly split into smaller groups moving across Bokaro and Ramgarh districts, a development officials believe has altered their behaviour. One aggressive subgroup comprising five elephants has been linked to several attacks on people and property.
On Thursday, three members of the same family were killed in Chutki Punnu village after an elephant attack. Two days later, the herd entered Gangpur village under the Mahuatand police station limits, damaging a house as residents attempted to escape to the rooftop.
A young boy and his grandfather were killed in the incident, while four other family members, including two minors, sustained injuries.
In another incident earlier this week, a man identified as Ravindra Dangi was reportedly dragged out of his car and trampled to death by elephants.
Villagers have accused the forest department of failing to put effective safety mechanisms in place despite repeated warnings and earlier incidents.
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