Wild elephants go on rampage in Jharkhand's Gumla, kill 2 & destroy homes

GUMLA: Wild elephants went on a rampage across two villages in Gumla Sadar and Ghagra block of Gumla district, killing two people and razing 11 houses between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Forest officials said the deceased were identified as Bitwa Gope (70) of Ghatgaon village under Gumla Sadar block and Bandhani Oraon (55), a resident of Tendar Navatoli village in Ghagra block.
Gope, officials said, was sitting next to a bonfire near his house on Tuesday night when he was attacked by two tuskers which were tailing a herd of 18 roving elephants. Gope was killed on the spot. Oraon was attacked by the herd around 5:30 am on Wedneday when came out of her house to relieve herself.
On Monday night, the herd had strayed into Ruki village adjacent to the Tendar Navatoli village and razed seven homes. None was injured in the incident. "This herd moved into Tendar forest from the adjoining forests of Chhattisgarh 12 days ago and is camping in the area. We are bringing in a team of specialists to chase the herd away from human settlements," a forest official said.
Gumla divisional forest officer Shrikant said, "Two fatalities have been reported from two different villages. Immediate financial compensation is being provided to the kin of the deceased."
Seven persons died and over 200 houses have been damaged in elephant attacks between April, 2020 and present day in Gumla forest division.