A 35-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district, taking the count of such fatalities to 12 this month, an officer said on Wednesday.
The incident took place when Narayan Pawle of Sarhari village in the Pratappur Forest Range was cycling home on Tuesday night, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Anup Kumar said.
Pawle came face to face with an elephant near the village and was killed.
As the news spread, angry locals blocked the Podi-Pratappur road blaming the Forest Department for the death.
The family of the deceased was provided Rs 25,000 and the remaining compensation of Rs 5.75 lakhs will be given on completion of formalities, the officer said.
