Ranchi, Jan. 11 -- At least 17 people have been killed and more than 10 injured in a series of elephant attacks across forest villages of the West Singhbhum district over the past week, exposing serious gaps in Jharkhand's preparedness to deal with human-elephant conflict.

The attacks are concentrated in and around the Saranda forest belt, one of Asia's largest sal forests. Forest officials say a single adult male tusker has carried out at least 12 attacks in seven days across seven forest ranges under the Kolhan and Chaibasa divisions. The elephant has been moving in a circular pattern of nearly 110 kilometres, striking villages at night and retreating into dense forest cover by day.

The deadliest incident occurred on the night of Janu...