Tragic Elephant Attack Claims Life in Latehar
A 58-year-old man lost his life in a tragic encounter with a wild elephant on Sunday evening. The incident occurred within the Chhipadohar forest range, which is part of the larger Palamu Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Jharkhand.
The victim has been identified as Muneshwar Korwa, a resident of Matnag village in Latehar district. Officials confirmed that Korwa belonged to a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG), highlighting the vulnerability of certain communities living in forest fringes.
Details of the Fatal Incident
According to forest authorities, the fatal event took place while Muneshwar Korwa was returning from a weekly market held in the nearby Ker village. He was accompanied by a woman at the time.
Ajay Toppo, the Forest Range Officer of Chhipadohar, provided a detailed account. He stated that the duo was walking along a kuccha (unpaved) road when an elephant suddenly emerged from the surrounding bushes right in front of them.
While the woman accompanying Korwa managed to escape to safety, he could not. The elephant attacked and trampled him, leading to his immediate death. Officer Toppo also mentioned that Korwa had consumed local liquor at the weekly market and was in an inebriated state when the attack occurred.
Immediate Relief and Ongoing Formalities
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the forest department has taken steps to provide immediate financial relief to the grieving family.
Ajay Toppo confirmed that an initial ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 has already been handed over to the victim's wife, Fulwa Devi.
The remaining compensation, amounting to Rs 3.5 lakh, will be disbursed to the family once the necessary official formalities are completed. This process is standard in such cases of human-wildlife conflict.
This fatal encounter underscores the persistent and grave issue of human-elephant conflict in regions surrounding forest reserves like PTR. It brings to light the dangers faced by local communities, especially those from tribal groups, who live and work in close proximity to wildlife habitats.
