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‘Ramlal’ joins poll queue: Elephant’s early morning visit adds twist to Bengal polls
Forest officials drove Ramlal back after the elephant drew crowds and raised alert at a Jhargram polling booth during voting.
- On Thursday, April 23, 2026, a wandering elephant named 'Ramlal' appeared near Jitusol Primary School in Jhargram during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly Elections, briefly stealing the poll spotlight.
- Jhargram accounts for nearly 60% of the 25 polling booths in South Bengal identified as vulnerable due to their proximity to elephant corridors, according to ABP News.
- To prevent human-elephant conflict, the forest department deployed nearly 75 tracker teams, each comprising 10 to 15 trained personnel, and installed 450 drop gates at strategic points.
- Forest officials successfully removed the animal and drove it back to the forests; no untoward incidents were reported as voting continued in the district.
- Authorities are maintaining round-the-clock vigil in sensitive regions like Bankura and West Midnapore, utilizing AI-enabled CCTV systems to ensure smooth and safe voting across the state.
13 Articles
13 Articles
‘Ramlal’ the elephant strolls into poll queue, adds colour to Bengal voting
Polling in West Bengal's Jhargram saw an unusual interruption. A wandering elephant, Ramlal, briefly paused voting at Jitushol Primary School. Forest officials quickly intervened, guiding the tusker away. Voting then resumed smoothly. This incident highlighted the unique challenges faced in the region. Special teams were deployed to manage wildlife during the election.
Elephant Enters Jitusol Primary School Booth Vicinity in Jhargram Amid West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 (Watch Video) | 📰 LatestLY
Voting was briefly interrupted at Jitusol Primary School in Jhargram on Thursday after a wild elephant wandered into the vicinity of the polling station. The incident occurred during the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, causing temporary panic among voters standing in queue. 📰 Elephant Enters Jitusol Primary School Booth Vicinity in Jhargram Amid West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 (Watch Video).
Poll day surprise: Elephant ‘Ramlal’ joins queue, halts voting briefly in West Bengal
Kolkata: An elephant was seen in the voting line prior to the commencement of the first phase of Assembly elections in West Bengal, causing alarm among voters on Thursday morning. This unexpected occurrence in Jhargram's Jitushol led to a brief disturbance at the polling station. Subsequently, officials from the forest department arrived at the scene and managed to restore order. The first phase of voting is underway in 152 Assembly constituenc…
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