A wild single-tusked elephant has killed 20 people in West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, between January 1 and 9, 2026. The attacks, mostly at night, occurred in villages near the Chaibasa and Kolhan forest areas. Villagers live in fear, moving only in groups and avoiding going out after sunset. Benisagar village residents have even started sleeping in groups at a panchayat leader's house for safety. Prakash, a 35-year-old heavy machinery operator from Benisagar, was one of the victims. His father, Madhu Tati, recalls the morning a mad elephant entered the village and killed Prakash before he could drink his milk. Prakash’s wife, Sanju Patro, worries about life without his financial support. The tusker has also destroyed houses and killed livestock. Damage is widespread, and villages have been supplied with materials to keep bonfires burning at night to keep the elephant away. The Jharkhand Forest Department has launched a massive search operation with over 100 personnel, supported by wildlife experts from Odisha, West Bengal, and Gujarat to capture and tranquilize the elephant. Divisional Forest Officer Aditya Narayan confirms only one tusker is responsible and says teams are monitoring the area 24/7. Experts believe the elephant may be in an aggressive mating phase or separated from its herd, causing its unusual deadly behaviour. The Saranda forest where the attacks occur is a protected area but faces habitat loss due to mining and human activity. In the past 18 years, 1,270 people have died from elephant attacks in Jharkhand, highlighting the growing conflict between humans and wildlife. Despite the fear, villagers pray the tusker will be caught soon so they can live safely again. "We hope it is captured soon, so we can all sleep in peace," says resident Vidyadhar Chatar.