A group of sixteen elephants entered into three villages of Doranda Panchayat of Bero sub division of Ranchi district. These villages are Sero, Baidh Khijri and Karge.
The wild elephants damaged houses and properties of hundreds of farmers. Here elephants damaged nine houses and a school. They damaged windows and doors of school and ate away rice and pulses kept in the school for mid-day- meal. They remained in the villages for about nine hours.
Villagers told that first of all the group of elephants entered into Sero Bihado Toli around seven thirty o’clock in the night and damaged the houses of Chamari Bhaktain. After this the group of elephants entered into Khijri village and damaged the houses of Ram Vriksh Mahto, Mangra Oraon, Karma Oraon and Goyanda Oraon. After that the group entered into a Primary School of Patra Toli. There they destroyed sacs of rice and pulses and scattered everything.
Other houses destroyed by elephants belonged to Vinod Oraon, Balak Gaderi, Tetrari Orain and Somo Orain.
Men and women of the villages told that they narrowly escaped from the houses. The damage of houses created heavy difficulties in the rainy season. They became almost homeless.
Villagers tried to chase away elephants through various means. In anger the elephants chased away villagers many times. After seven hours elephants left the villages. The villagers had to remain awake through the whole night. Now the group of elephants is migrating towards Bayasi forest.
After hearing the news, the Mukhiya of the area Mahabir Oraon visited the villages. He assured the villagers that he would try to get compensation for the loss of villagers. Villagers have appealed the forest department for the compensation of their houses and property.
