Jumbos raze huts, devour stored food grains, in Dhanbad villages

Dhanbad: A herd of elephants descended from the Tundi hills and damaged two houses and consuming stored food grains at Parvatpur and Basaha villages in Dhanbad district on Sunday night.

The elephants uprooted trees and trumpeted loudly as they advanced towards the villages. They damaged the huts of Mahalal Kisku and Sunil Hembrom at Parvatpur village. Both families were inside their homes at the time of the attack but managed to escape unharmed. Adult elephants broke the walls, while the younger ones entered the razed structures and devoured stored grains, including paddy and wheat, villagers said.

A forest department team used torches, drums, and firecrackers to drive the elephants towards Navtar hill.

Forest officials said the herd has been staying in the Tundi hill area for nearly two weeks. Villagers were alerted to remain cautious. District forest officer Vikas Paliwal said, “The herd had migrated from Giridih forests to the Tundi region, as it does almost every year. They generally remain in the area for nearly a month before returning to the forests of Giridih through the same route. The movement of the herd is being closely monitored.”

Elephant herds often move extensively during pregnancy periods. The herd may return after giving birth, officials added.