Herd of jumbos is on rampage these days in the remote areas of Naxal-prone Churchu block of Hazaribagh district. On Thursday night a herd entered in the Charhi forest area of the block and destroyed about a dozen houses in Chihi Khurd village.
The residence of Pandana Tand and Simrabera areas of the village remained in panic. Mana Ram Kisku, Dineshwar Kisku, Somra Kisku, Bhuwaneshwar Kisku and others said that the jumbos not only destroyed their houses but they also ate more than 17 quintal of paddy, rice and Mahua kept in the store room. Due to the activity of the jumbos, some utensils and other house hold materials also got damaged.
Sita Ram Marandi, Joseph Marandi and Harilal of Simrabera are also in panic as the herd has also destroyed their houses and have ate the food grains they have stored for the use of their family members. Almost crying they said that security of my family members is the first priority now, then they will think of anything else.
The entire area which in grip of jumbos rampage nowadays is inhabited by villagers who are either daily wagers or small farmers who hardly earns bread for their family members daily. Since there is no irrigation facility in this area, so they get only one crop from their field which is the only hope for them for entire year and jumbos are specially targeting on those stored food grains.
On Friday, a team of forest officials led by range officer SN Singh reached Chichi Khurd village to take a close look of the spot and to assess the damage. Villagers reported them about the damage and requested quick relief.The forest officials assured them every possible help and compensation of damage as soon as possible.
They also advised the villagers to use fire torches to keep away the jumbos from their houses.later they said that the herd was in Churchu block since more than one week. Earlier they have damaged an alto car, several houses and crops in lara, Chanaro and other villages of Churchu panchayat and now they have moved to Charhi forest area.The department is trying its best to move out the herd but since in this season Mahua, fruit is stored in almost every house of this area and its smell attracts the jumbos, so the attempts are mostly going in vain.