Jamshedpur: An elephant trampled an elderly woman to death, while her brother was injured when he tried to save her in remote area of Chaibasa forest division in West Singhbhum district early on Tuesday.A herd of two grown-up elephants had strayed into Barkundia village in Tantnagar block of the district late on Monday. The deceased were identified as Chandu Kui (60), and her brother, Lakhan Kudada (65).An official said that one of the elephants supposedly got the scent of mahua (fermented liquor) and raided a straw hut situated close by. Jerked from sleep, and while attempting to escape, they spotted the elephant near them.The elephant dragged Chandu by the trunk, then lifted her into the air, slammed her onto the ground and then trampled her to death.Lakhan was kicked by the elephant when he tried to save his sister and suffered fractures in right leg.Lakhan has been admitted to Chaibasa Sadar Hospital after the forest officials reached the spot in the morning on receiving the alert.Chaibasa DFO, Aditya Narayan said that prima facie, mahua stockpile was the cause of the incident.“Two separate filled jars of mahua and hadia were found in the house attacked by the elephant. It was the lone hut situated remotely in the forest, so there was no immediate emergency response from the forest guards or the villagers when the animal attacked,” the DFO said.The forester said that about 30 elephants in separate herds have been straying in the forest for the past one week, therefore villagers living in the forest area have been advised to follow safety protocols, which include not keeping fermented liquor in and around the house.
