In a shocking incident, an elephant strayed into the city and trampled to death a 45-year-old woman at an urban slum under Bagbera police station area in the wee hours on Sunday.
The victim, identified as Jema Bankira was sleeping with her husband Rajaram at the courtyard of Somai Jhopri, around 3 am on Sunday, when the elephant attacked the couple.
As the tragedy struck Jema who sustained head injuries was rushed by the local residents to MGM Medical College and Hospital’s emergency at Sakchi where she was declared as brought dead.
According to information, the elephant which got separated from a herd of four elephants also attacked two more residents, including Jema’s husband Rajaram. The third victim who was injured identified as 55-year-old man Salai Hembram. Both Rajaram and Salai escaped with minor injuries and were released from the medical college hospital after first-aid.
After attacking the residents, the elephant had sneaked into the residence of Birsa Murmu where it took shelter under the canopy of trees. The tusker was finally driven out at around 9.30 am after a team of forest department officials led by ranger Sudhanshu Kumar reached the spot.
Police confirmed that a wild elephant killed a woman at Somai Jhopri Bustee in Bagbera in the dawn on Sunday.
“We are investigating the incident. The victim, identified as Jema Bankira was trampled to death by the wild elephant at her residential premises. We have managed to drive the elephant to a jungle in adjoining Sundarnagar with the help of forest department officials,” said officer-in-charge, Bagbera police station JK Thakur. He said that body of the deceased woman has been sent to the MGM Medical College mortuary for a post-mortem.
local residents who were panicked said the elephant had first entered into the house of Salai Hembram and hit him with its trunk from the cot he was sleeping.
Rajaram who has bruises in both of his hand and injuries on his shoulder said “I am in state of panic. I was sleeping on a cot in the courtyard and my wife at a little distance away on another cot. I woke up after the noise when the elephant had attack Salai Hembram, but before I could alert my wife the elephant had reached there and caught hold of her with the trunk and tossed her”. Rajaram (50) used to work in a contract firm as daily labourer.
Residents, including women and children gathered around the area where the wild elephant had taken shelter after causing the fatal attack at Somai Jhopri. The forest range officer, Sudhanshu Kumar used blowing siren for driving the animal away from the human habitat.