DHANBAD: Three people, including a couple, were killed by elephants in Manjhdadih village of Giridih district on Sunday night. The victims were sleeping in a 'khalihan' (an open space where foodgrain is stored),when a herd of 22 elephants entered the village. The deceased - identified as Rameshwar Yadav (45), Devilal Murmi (52) and his wife Debi Devi (51) - were sleeping when the herd attacked them.

Divisional forest officer Smita Pankaj on Monday said the herd was still roaming in the area. The herd also destroyed paddy crops in the fields before. Villagers estimated that about 15 tons of rice have been destroyed by the herd. Pankaj added that the government would give out the statutory compensation of Rs 2 lakh to families of the victims.