Man-animal conflict claims 5 lives in 48 hrs

RANCHI: Five people were killed in the past 48 hours while two elephants lost their lives as a result of the man-animal conflict that continues unabated in Jharkhand.

The latest casualty occurred in Bundu, around 40km from Ranchi, where a wild pachyderm trampled to death 67-year-old Ma he sh war Ma ha to on Wednesday evening. The same elephant had killed 60-year-old Sambhu Lohra in the afternoon. The elephant, forest officials said, separated from its herd a week ago and had since gone berserk, attacking villagers at will.

Bundu forest ranger Ranvir Singh said Lohra was returning to his village Shyam Nagar from a weekly market when the elephant attacked him .“The tusker, who left the Te tl afore stat around 4pm, accosted Lohra in the Joikya Garha area. The old man could notes cape and the elephant crushed him to death,” he said. The elephant, which was on his way to West Bengal, reached B ir dih di ha few hours later where it came across Mahato, who was returning to his field.

Shocked at the sight of the elephant, Ma ha to tried to flee but the elephant chased him and trampled him to death.

Forest officials said the families of the deceased would be given ₹4 lakh each as compensation. “For immediate relief, a cheque of ₹50,000 was handed over,” Singh said.

In all ,277 people have lost their lives-due-to-man-elephant-conflict in the past five years. Forest officials said roughly 40 elephants also died during the period.

Recently, a herd killed 60- yearold Ma ha Hansdai nH az ari bag’ s Churchu block. Hansda was herding his cattle in a nearby jungle when the herd attacked him.