Survivors recount narrow escape in Hazaribag elephant attack that killed six

A terrifying midnight elephant attack in Hazaribag’s Gondwar village claimed six lives, with survivors recounting harrowing escapes. Rohit Ram described elephants smashing doors and attempting to grab him, while Babulal Hembrom credited courageous youths for diverting the enraged herd. Villagers suspect shrinking forests and habitat intrusion fuel this unprecedented aggression, prompting increased forest patrols and warnings.

Hazaribag: Survivors Rohit Ram and Babulal Hembrom recalled how they narrowly escaped death during a midnight elephant rampage at Gondwar village in Churchu block of Hazaribag, where six people died in a late-night attack on Thursday.Rohit said the herd appeared unusually violent. “We had seen elephants earlier in the area, but never like this. They were aggressively moving around, breaking doors and boundary walls as if they were searching for people,” he said.According to Rohit, the elephants first smashed the door of his house. “When the door broke, my father and I stepped outside and saw an elephant standing right in front of us. I immediately told my father to go back inside,” he said.“Moments later, an elephant tried to grab me. “There was a large iron kadhai (wok) kept inside the house. I picked it up and hit the elephant with it. It moved slightly, giving me a chance,” Rohit recounted. He then jumped out through a window and ran through another lane, alerting neighbours with his shouts. “In the commotion, I saw at least five elephants. Somehow, my father and I survived. We thank God for saving us,” he said.Babulal Hembrom, around 50 years old, said he, too, was chased by the herd. “I cannot run fast at my age, but some youths showed courage and diverted the elephants in another direction. That is how I was saved,” he said.Babulal described the elephants as more aggressive than ever before. “In my entire life, I have never seen the elephants this angry. They roamed across the village before attacking. It seemed like they were searching for humans. Whoever they saw, they crushed,” he said.Calling the incident a “warning bell”, Babulal said shrinking forest cover, human intrusion into elephant habitats and shortage of food could be behind the increasing aggression. “If this continues, such tragedies can happen again,” he warned.Forest officials intensified patrolling in the area and urged villagers to remain alert as authorities tracked the movement of the herd.