Rare Mushroom Hunt Turns Deadly: Man Killed by Elephant in Ranchi Forest

A man’s quest for a valuable wild mushroom ended in tragedy in the forests of Ranchi, Jharkhand. Gopen Uraon, a resident of the Chanho area, was searching for the ‘Rugda’ mushroom, which sells for approximately ₹1000 per kilogram, when he was attacked and killed by an elephant. The incident occurred in the Honhe Pakartoli forest. Gopen was accompanied by his family amidst heavy rainfall when they were searching for the mushroom. The man’s excitement upon discovering a large quantity of the sought-after fungi led to a tragic oversight of the approaching elephant. His wife and son managed to escape the elephant attack. The forest department and local police responded to the scene, recovering the body. It was then sent for a post-mortem examination. Local villagers have raised concerns about recent elephant activity in the area and previous incidents of attacks. Rugda, a type of underground mushroom, is prized for its delicious taste and rich nutritional profile, including high levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Its scarcity, due to its seasonal availability during the monsoon, drives its high market price.