Mumbai, April 19: In Koderma district of Jharkhand, residents of the Satgawan block took to the streets on Sunday due to the terror caused by wild elephants. They blocked the Gaya-Deoghar main road near the Kataya turn, demanding compensation and safety from the forest department.
According to locals, elephants have been wreaking havoc in the area. On Saturday night, a herd of elephants brutally killed 30-year-old Mohit Kumar near Kataya village. Mohit, the sole breadwinner of his family, was attacked while going about his evening routine. Villagers claim that the herd has been roaming the area for the past three days, yet the forest department has failed to take effective action to drive them away.
Earlier, on Friday night around 11 PM, a group of three elephants caused significant damage in Gajhar village. They broke into the home of Sanju Devi, consuming nearly 10 quintals of grain and destroying household items. Fortunately, the family was sleeping in another house at the time. In the past two months, more than five people have lost their lives due to elephant attacks in the bordering areas of Koderma, including Satgawan, Domchanch, and Markachcho.
Following the recent incident, a climate of fear has enveloped the entire Satgawan block, forcing residents to stay awake at night. Upon learning of the road blockade, officials from the forest department and local administration arrived at the scene. Protesters expressed frustration, stating that the department merely advises them to “stay alert” while shirking its responsibilities. Officials assured immediate assistance and appropriate compensation for the affected family, along with special instructions for forest rangers to drive elephants away from populated areas. As of the time of writing, the blockade remains in place.
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