M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, March 15: A local journalist and his acquaintance had a miraculous escape when two elephants made a bid to charge them on the state highway 9 today in the South division of the Palamu tiger reserve.
The scribe Ranjit Kumar, a resident of Bareysanr who works for a Ranchi-based Hindi daily, and his acquaintance Vikas were on a bike en route to Garu from Bareysanr today when they spotted two elephants and one calf elephant near Hathiya Nala on the state highway 9.
Ranjit could guess the mood of the elephants as it had with them a calf and their body language was aggressive and attacking too. They ran for life leaving the bike behind to save themselves from the attack of the elephants.
However, the elephants damaged his bike. The fuel tank was dented and punctured.
A civil society activist Paras Yadav, who is also a journalist, on getting information about the mishap rushed to the site.
Yadav informed the local PTR quick reaction team which also reached the site and boosted the morale of Ranjit who was in a state of trauma and shock. His bike is in a state of immobility.
The Deputy Director (South division) of PTR Mukesh Kumar was briefed on the issue. He said that Ranjit spoke to him and narrated the episode.
The deputy director has directed a ranger Tarun Kumar Singh to see how his bike can be set right.
“If there is a calf accompanying the elephant then one has to be extra alert as elephant gets suspicious of the presence of any human being fearing danger coming to the calf and in sheer defense and to preempt any untoward incident coming to the calf the elephant gets into a charging mood,” Mukesh Kumar said.
However, he also said that following enormous leaf fall visibility in the jungle has gone too good and jumbos can be spotted now from a considerable distance.
Here, sources said that the elephants appeared on the state highway 9 quite abruptly otherwise Ranjit would not have such a brush with the elephants.
“Elephants are migrating all in search of water bodies and such an encounter with them is inevitable,” added Mukesh Kumar.
