RANCHI — A wave of grief has struck Jharkhand’s Hazaribag district after a herd of wild elephants trampled six villagers to death, including a family of four, in the early hours of Friday, February 13, 2026. The incident, which occurred in Gondwar village under the Churchu block, highlights the escalating human-wildlife conflict in the region’s forest corridors.
Hazaribag East Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Vikas Kumar Ujjwal confirmed that the herd had been migrating across the Bokaro and Ramgarh districts over the past few days before entering the Churchu block on Thursday night.
1. The Night of the Attack
According to forest officials, the herd entered the residential area of Gondwar under the cover of darkness. While the department had issued warnings via public address systems, the sheer speed and aggression of the herd led to a panic-stricken escape attempt by the villagers.
- The Victims: Six individuals were killed on the spot. This includes four members of one family who were caught in the path of the jumbos while attempting to flee their home.
- Survivor: A young child sustained critical injuries during the rampage and is currently undergoing intensive treatment at the Sadar Hospital in Hazaribag.
- Eyewitness Account: Poonam Devi, a relative of the deceased, shared a harrowing account of the chaos, noting that two children were tragically separated and trampled during the stampede.
2. A History of Casualties
The DFO noted that this specific herd has been on a “marauding path” for several days. Before reaching Hazaribag, the elephants had already caused property damage and human casualties in Bokaro district.
The forest department has been tracking the movement of the group, but the dense fog and hilly terrain of the Churchu block made intervention difficult on Friday morning.
3. Government Response & Compensation
The Jharkhand state government has moved to provide immediate financial relief to the bereaved families.
| Item | Details |
| Compensation Amount | ₹4 Lakh per deceased victim (Ex-gratia) |
| Medical Aid | State to bear the full cost of the injured child’s treatment |
| Safety Measures | Deployment of ‘Gaj Sathi’ (Elephant Friends) teams to track the herd |
| Alert Level | High alert maintained in Churchu and neighboring Tati Jhariya blocks |
4. Human-Elephant Conflict in Jharkhand
Experts suggest that the fragmentation of traditional elephant corridors due to mining and infrastructure projects is forcing herds into human settlements. In 2025-26, Jharkhand has seen a significant spike in such encounters, particularly in the Hazaribag and Lohardaga belts.