At least 17 people have been killed and more than 10 injured in a series of elephant attacks across forest villages of the West Singhbhum district over the past week, exposing serious gaps in Jharkhand’s preparedness to deal with human–elephant conflict.

The attacks are concentrated in and around the Saranda forest belt, one of Asia’s largest sal forests. Forest officials say a single adult male tusker has carried out at least 12 attacks in seven days across seven forest ranges under the Kolhan and Chaibasa divisions. The elephant has been moving in a circular pattern of nearly 110 kilometres, striking villages at night and retreating into dense forest cover by day.

The deadliest incident occurred on the night of January 6 in Babariya village under the Noamundi block, where the elephant attacked huts while families were sleeping. Six people were killed, including four children. In the following days, similar attacks were reported from Hatgamharia, Goilkera, Bada Pasiya, Lampaisai and other forest villages, where residents were trampled inside huts or while sleeping outdoors.

Villagers, most of them from tribal communities living along traditional elephant corridors, say fear now defines daily life. Families are staying awake through the night, lighting fires and keeping vigil to protect their homes. Many say they no longer feel safe even indoors, given the fragility of mud huts and the speed of the attacks.

Forest officials confirm that the elephant’s nocturnal pattern and rapid movement have made tracking extremely difficult. Only after the death toll rose to 17 did the forest department decide to tranquilise and relocate the animal. However, its precise location has not yet been fixed. Teams from West Bengal, Odisha and local forest units have been deployed, and drones are being used to monitor movement. The department has also reached out to specialised wildlife rescue organisations, including the Vantara animal rehabilitation facility.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Paritosh Upadhyay acknowledged key logistical constraints. While the department has tranquilisation equipment, it does not have heavy vehicles required to safely transport a sedated elephant. Assistance has been sought from the SOS organisation based in Agra, while support from other agencies may take time due to distance.

Former PCCF L. R. Singh said the elephant’s behaviour is consistent with that of an adult male in musth, a phase marked by high testosterone levels and heightened aggression. Such males are often solitary and can display unpredictable violence for up to two months. He said tranquilisation or driving the animal deeper into forest areas remains the preferred option, as long-term captivity is neither feasible nor humane. Lethal action, he added, is considered only in the rarest cases with written approval at the highest level.

Official data highlight the scale of the problem. Jharkhand has recorded around 1,270 human deaths due to elephant attacks over the past 18 years, while nearly 150 elephants have also died in conflict-related incidents. The state is home to an estimated 550 to 600 elephants, increasingly coming into contact with humans as forest corridors shrink and settlements expand.

While compensation is being provided to victims’ families, officials admit the process often takes weeks. On the ground, villagers are demanding early warning systems, permanent tracking mechanisms and relocation from high-risk corridors. As fear grips West Singhbhum, the unfolding crisis has intensified scrutiny of whether Jharkhand’s forest management systems are equipped to deal with a conflict that is becoming recurrent and deadly.