Three elderly members of a family were killed and two others injured after a herd of elephants entered a village in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district early on Thursday, highlighting the growing crisis of human–elephant conflict in the state.

The incident occurred around 3 am at Barki Punnu village under the Mahuatand police station limits of Gomia block, when most residents were asleep. Forest officials said the elephants strayed into the village from a nearby forest area while searching for food.

## Elderly couple among those killed

The deceased were identified as Gangwa Karmali (65), his wife Kamli Devi (62), and his sister-in-law Bhagiya Devi (65). Two other women — Karmi Devi (62) and her daughter-in-law Anuja Devi (34) — sustained injuries and are receiving treatment. Both injured women are extended family members of the deceased.

Villagers said the elephants damaged several houses as people attempted to flee in panic. Forest officials confirmed that the deaths occurred during the chaos caused by the herd’s movement through the settlement.

## Third deadly incident involving same herd

Bokaro divisional forest officer Sandeep Sinde said the same herd had been roaming in the Barki Punnu area for several days and had already been involved in two earlier fatal incidents in the Gomia block this month.

“This is the third attack by the same herd, taking the total death toll in the block to five,” he said, adding that forest department teams have been deployed to track the elephants’ movement and alert villagers.

The department has also initiated the process to provide compensation to the families of the victims, officials said.

## Rising human–elephant conflict in state

Jharkhand has witnessed a sharp rise in human–elephant conflict in recent years. More than 25 people have reportedly been killed in elephant attacks across the state since January this year alone. Government data shows that 474 people have died in such incidents since the 2019–20 financial year.

Forest authorities have urged villagers living near forest fringes to remain alert, avoid moving out at night, and follow safety advisories until the elephants are guided back into forest zones.