> At a Glance
> – A single young adult male elephant has killed 17 people since Jan. 1 in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district
> – Attacks span a 62-mile radius across three forest divisions
> – Among the dead: a couple and their two children killed together in Babadia village
> – Why it matters: Night-time raids and erratic movement patterns have forced entire villages to flee, with wildlife teams still unable to tranquilize the animal
A rampaging elephant has claimed 17 lives in eastern India within a single week, turning nightly sleep into a deadly gamble for villagers across West Singhbhum.
The killing spree
Since New Year’s Day, the young bull has struck roughly a dozen times across a 100-km loop of forest and farmland. Victims include Chipri Chimpi of Sialjod, 40-year-old Prakash Das-whose body was found decapitated-and a minor boy. The bloodiest incident wiped out an entire family of four in Babadia.
Hunt and havoc
- Tracking teams from state and independent agencies have camped inside the forest belt.
- Last confirmed sighting: Thursday, Jan. 8.
- Current tactic: round-the-clock patrols, firecracker bursts and loudspeaker warnings to keep the elephant from hamlets.
Divisional forest officer Aditya Narayan admits the animal’s path is “haphazard,” complicating dart-gun approaches. Once located, vets will attempt sedation and relocation.
Human toll and next steps
Deputy Commissioner Chandan Kumar says officials are moving residents out of “critical zones” to temporary shelters while the search continues. Night remains the danger window; most attacks occur while people sleep.
Regional chief conservator Smita Pankaj stresses the top priority: prevent an 18th casualty.
Key takeaways
- 17 dead in seven days, making this one of India’s deadliest single-elephant incidents in recent memory
- Forest crews have not yet cornered the bull, believed to be in musth-a testosterone-driven aggressive phase
- Compensation demands and calls for a permanent safety plan grow louder from grieving villages
Until the elephant is captured, tens of thousands in Jharkhand will trade their beds for uncertain nights in makeshift camps.
