Jamshedpur: A woman and her minor daughter were trampled to death while her father-in-law and mother-in-law sustained critical injuries after an elephant separated from its herd attacked their hut at Hadat village in Chandil forest range of Seraikela-Kharsawan district early on Saturday, a forest official said.A herd of five elephants had strayed into the village from Purulia district of West Bengal on Friday night, forester Mukesh Kumar said.“An elephant, which got separated from the herd, broke a wall of the thatched house, may be after being attracted by the aroma of rice stored in a sack in the house. Mohan Mahato, 65, and Satula, 60, who were asleep in a room were buried under the debris of the collapsed wall,” he said.“Mahato’s son, Kamalchand, 40, his wife China Devi, 37, and daughter Amita Bala, 13, who were sleeping in the adjoining room, rushed to the rescue of Kamalchand’s parents on hearing their screams. But they found themselves face to face with the elephant in the verandah. In panic, Kamalchand hid under a cot and managed to save his life, but China and Amita were trampled to death,” he added.Locals rescued the injured elderly couple and shifted them to the Chandil community health center (CHC), from where they were referred to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur. Their condition is stated to be stable, sources said.A quick response team (QRT), along with forest guards, has been tasked to drive back the elephants to Purulia, the official said.A compensation of Rs 1 lakh was handed over to Kamalchand for conducting the last rites of his wife and daughter. “An ex gratia of Rs 8 lakh will be given to the family after completion of legal formalities,” Kumar added.A 55-year-old villager was trampled to death by an adult elephant at Saparup village under Tiruldih police station limits on April 11. A 50-year-old was killed in an elephant attack under Kukru police station limits on Dec 28 last year, while a 34-year-old villager was trampled to death by an elephant under Chandil police station area on Oct 17, 2024.
