Bokaro: With loudspeaker blaring throughout the night along with intensified patrols and drones buzzing in the villages’ skies, families in Gomia block of Bokaro district left their mud homes, took shelter on the rooftops of a few concrete houses and spent sleepless nights in the biting cold, making it hard, particularly for women, children and the elderly.Scenes of laughter, work in the fields, and people spending time together basking in the sun or in tree shades — a regular sight in rural areas — are gone. Now, even the thought of spending another day sends the shivers down the spines of the residents. The year 2026 seems to be a harbinger of bad things for these residents, as since the start of the year, marauding elephants have been raiding their villages, killing people, destroying their homes, granaries and standing crops.In the past week alone, at least five people have been killed, and several others were injured, triggering large-scale panic across Gangpur, Badkipunnu and surrounding villages.“We cook before sunset and shift our children to safe rooftops. Nights are spent awake, listening for warning calls,” said Rupa Kumari, a resident of a forest-side village, Gangpur.Another villager, Jeevanlal Sah, echoing similar concerns, said, “After sunset, we leave our mud homes and climb onto safer concrete roofs. The cold is harsh, but the fear of staying at home is far worse. We haven’t slept properly for days. Every warning announcement makes our hearts race, but staying inside our houses is even more dangerous.”Meanwhile, the forest department has intensified its preventive measures. A 19-member special team has also arrived from Bakura in West Bengal to assist the local staff in keeping the jumbos at bay.IFS officer looking after the Bokaro forest division, Sudeep Shinde, said, “Continuous patrolling is underway, torches have been installed at vulnerable locations, and drone surveillance is being used in jungles to track elephant movements. Six quick response teams (QRTs) have also been deployed to gather real-time information and alert the villagers.”He also said the threat to humans and property was being closely monitored. “Around 42 elephants are currently moving in the forest of Luggu foothills in Gomia block. The herd of five elephants, which is attacking the residents, is a part of that group but is now separated. The fiercest in this herd of five is a female elephant,” Shinde said.Bokaro DC Ajay Nath Jha said the administration has taken the matter seriously and has been working on both immediate safety measures and long-term solutions. “Our priority is to ensure public safety while protecting the traditional elephant corridors. Solar lights, high-mast lights and solar fencing are being planned in the affected panchayats, and strict action is being taken against illegal mining and crimes in the forests that disturb wildlife movement,” Jha said.The administration has also assured families of the deceased of all possible assistance from the govt. The officials also said coordinated efforts between the district administration, police, forest department and local communities would continue to prevent further loss of life.
