Wild elephant herd ransacks primary school in West Singhbhum

Pioneer News Service 
Jamshedpur

Tusker menace continues to make villagers shiver in fear in West Singhbhum district. In a recent incident, a herd of wild elephants wreaked havoc at a government primary school in the Dakuwa Jungle area of Jagannathpur block in West Singhbhum district in the wee hours of the day, causing extensive damage to the school building and educational infrastructure. The incident has once again highlighted the growing human-elephant conflict in the region and sparked concern among local residents over the safety of children and public property.

According to school authorities and villagers, the elephants entered the school premises and forced their way into the building by smashing two windows and breaking down the main entrance door. Once inside, the animals damaged classroom furniture, teaching materials, educational supplies, and other school equipment, leaving the premises in disarray.

The destruction has severely affected the functioning of the school. Officials said regular classes may remain disrupted until the damaged doors, windows, and classrooms are repaired, as the building is currently unsafe for students and teachers.

Residents of nearby villages said elephant movement has become frequent in the area over the past several days, creating fear among the local population. Besides posing a threat to human lives, the elephants have reportedly been damaging crops and public infrastructure.

“Cases of the elephants are now common in our village. Wild elephants have been roaming near our areas continuously for the past few days. They pose a constant threat to lives, crops, and public infrastructure,” a local resident said.

The incident has triggered concern among parents, school staff, and villagers, who have urged the district administration and the Forest Department to take immediate action. They have demanded urgent restoration of the damaged school building to ensure classes resume without further delay.

Villagers have also sought enhanced safety measures, including the deployment of forest personnel to monitor elephant movement and drive the herd back into deeper forest areas. They further called for long-term strategies to address the recurring human-elephant conflict in the Jagannathpur region, where such incidents have become increasingly common.

Forest Department officials have been informed about the attack and have begun assessing the extent of the damage. Authorities are expected to prepare a report and initiate measures to repair the school while also planning steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.