Two killed in elephant attack in Odisha
Bhubaneshwar, Dec 4 (UNI) In the latest instance of man-elephant conflict, two persons, including a septuagenarian, from a forest-side village, were trampled to death by a wild tusker in Odisha’s Deogarh district during the wee hours of Thursday.
The victims — Kunja Dehuri (70) and Ranjita Behera (35) — died when the wild elephant came from nowhere and trampled them to death.
The fatalities were reported in the Riamal Forest Range and Chendipada Forest Range jurisdiction, said forest officials.
Both of them died on the spot as the furious animal picked them up by the trunk and tossed them in the air. They suffered serious head injuries and bled to death, said officials.
The spots where tragic death was reported are close to the elephants’ habitat corridor.
The animals stray into the agricultural field nearby to devour the crop, which leads to frequent outbreaks of man-elephant conflict, said officials.
The next of kin of the bereaved families are covered in ex gratia financial aid of Rs 6 lakh each as perthe rule prescribed for human death due to an attack by the protected animals, added forest officials.
The elephant population in Odisha is estimated to be 2,103 as per the latest census of these protected animals.