At least six people were killed after a herd of wild elephants stormed Gondwar village in the Churchu block of Hazaribagh district in Jharkhand late Thursday night, triggering panic and mourning across the region.
Among the deceased were four members of a single family. The victims have been identified as Suraj Bhuiyan (55), his daughter-in-law Suman Devi (25), Suman’s two minor children, Mangra Bhuiyan (58), and Dhaneshwar Ram (around 55).
According to villagers, a herd of five elephants entered the village between 1 am and 2 am when most residents were asleep. The elephants reportedly damaged several mud houses, smashing walls and doors as they moved through the settlement.
Suraj Bhuiyan and his family were asleep inside their home and were unable to escape when the structure was attacked.
Hearing the commotion, villagers rushed out and attempted to drive the animals away by beating drums, banging utensils, and flashing torches.
Despite their efforts, the elephants continued to wreak havoc for a considerable period before eventually retreating into the nearby forest.
Soon after the incident was reported, teams from the district administration, police, and forest department reached the spot. The bodies were sent for post-mortem examination, and an assessment of property damage was initiated.
Authorities have begun the process of providing relief and compensation to the affected families and advised residents to remain vigilant during nighttime hours.
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