Dhaka, Jan. 12 -- At least 20 people have been killed by a wild elephant over nine days in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, as forest officials continue efforts to trace and capture the animal.

The deaths occurred between Jan 1 and Jan 9 in the Chaibasa and Kolhan forest areas of West Singhbhum district, part of one of the largest Sal forests in Asia, the BBC reports.

Human-elephant conflict has been reported in the region for years, with authorities linking it to shrinking forest cover, habitat fragmentation, and increased human activity near elephant corridors, it added.

The BBC noted that a massive search operation involving more than 100 forest personnel is under way to locate the elephant.

"This is an unprecedented situatio...