Five trampled to death by wild elephants in Jharkhand

Five people, including two women, were trampled to death by wild elephants in separate incidents in Jharkhand over the past 24 hours, officials said on Wednesday (December 17, 2025).

In Ramgarh district, three people died at Sirka forest area, while a 36-year-old person was killed at Jidu village in Ranchi’s Angara, on Tuesday night (December 16, 2025), they said.

“Some of the deceased are yet to be identified. Two quick response teams (QRTs) and forest guards are tracking the movement of elephant herds in the area,” said Nitish Kumar, divisional forest officer, Ramgarh.

On Tuesday (December 16, 2025) afternoon, Amit Kumar Rajwar, 32, was trampled to death in Ramgarh when he approached a herd of eight wild elephants to capture a video and take selfies, Mr. Kumar said.

As many as 42 jumbos, divided in herds, are roaming the forests along the border areas of Ramgarh and Bokaro districts, Mr. Kumar said.

Gautam Kumar Rajwar, officer-in-charge of Angara police station, said a person named Sanicharwa Munda died during the course of treatment, while two injured, including a woman, are being treated in hospital.