Daijiworld Media Network - Ranchi

Ranchi, Jan 10: After a brief 48-hour lull, the rogue elephant unleashed fresh terror on Friday, trampling two more people to death in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. A forest department employee deployed to chase the animal away was also critically injured in the attack and is battling for life.

With the latest fatalities, the death toll linked to the rampaging jumbo has risen to 22 over the past nine days, while the elephant continues to evade capture.

The victims were identified as Prakash Malwa (40), a resident of Benisagar village, and a child. Eyewitnesses said the child’s body was reportedly lifted onto the elephant’s tusk during the attack, highlighting the ferocity of the incident.

In another alarming episode later in the day, the elephant attacked a forest official who had been brought in from West Bengal as part of efforts to drive the animal back into the forest. The jumbo repeatedly slammed the official to the ground, leaving him critically injured.

West Singhbhum Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Aditya Narayan said the elephant would be tranquillised and relocated to a safer area as soon as its precise location is identified. “Teams are on continuous alert, but the elephant’s rapid movement is making tracking extremely difficult,” he said.

A specialised team from West Bengal has been called in to assist with tranquillisation, while help has also been sought from wildlife conservation organisation Vantara.

Officials said the elephant has been frequently changing locations, attacking human settlements during the night and retreating deep into forested areas during the day, complicating rescue and tracking operations.

Meanwhile, villagers have demanded intensified night patrolling and a stronger early-warning system to prevent further loss of life and damage to property.