A herd of wild elephants suddenly began wreaking havoc in several villages in the Jargram district of the Indian state of West Bengal. As a result of a series of attacks by wild animals, four people died in three days.
According to the publication, the first whose death became known was a resident of the Suncrail quarter named Jitu Hembram. The man was seriously injured as a result of an attack by aggressive animals, he died in the hospital from his injuries. The next morning, in the forest in the Nayagram quarter, an elephant attacked a 24-year-old girl named Damayanti Mahato. She also died from mortal wounds.
The next victim of wild animals was 25-year-old man Sujit Mahato. The incident occurred in one of the residential areas of the Jargram district. A resident was returning home from work on a bicycle in the evening. Suddenly an elephant appeared behind him, grabbed him with his trunk, and slammed him into the ground. Hearing the cries of the guy, the locals rushed to help but found the young man already lying on the ground. The young man died on the spot. The forestry department promised compensation to the family of the deceased, reports Indian media.
Later that evening became known of the death of an elderly woman. Namita Mahato, 65, was standing on her front porch when a herd of angry elephants attacked her. She also died on the spot. Frightened eyewitnesses of the attack could not do anything, silently watching as “a neighbor dies in front of them,” the Indian media adds eerie details. Thus, the total number of victims of attacks by wild herbivores has grown to 4 people.
Meanwhile, according to the India Times, by March 28, the death toll after attacks by angry elephants rose to 9 people.
A series of similar fatal incidents caused panic among residents, who began to express dissatisfaction with the inaction of law enforcement officers and officials of the Forestry Department.