A 22-year-old woman was tragically killed in an elephant attack near Bedal Tangratoli village in Lohardaga district on Tuesday, as confirmed by forest officials.
Details of the Incident
The victim, identified as Pratima Oraon, was harvesting wheat along with her husband Krishna, 26, and their six-year-old son in a field located near a forest area beside a river. The field was approximately one kilometer away from their residence.
According to forest officer Mukesh Prajapati, the elephant suddenly emerged from the forest and moved towards the field. While Krishna managed to flee, Pratima could not escape. The elephant caught her with its trunk and thrashed her to the ground. Notably, the child remained unharmed during the attack.
Officials suspect that the tusker may have come from the Amaliye forest in Bharno block of Gumla district and retreated soon after the incident.
Injuries and Compensation
The critically injured woman was immediately rushed to the community health centre (CHC) in Bhandra, where she succumbed to her injuries. As an immediate relief measure, Rs 30,000 has been provided to the victim's husband, while the remaining Rs 3.7 lakh will be disbursed after the completion of necessary formalities.
This incident highlights the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the region, with elephants often straying into agricultural fields in search of food. Forest officials have urged villagers to remain vigilant and report any elephant sightings promptly.
