In yet another elephant attack, a 59-year-old widow was trampled to death at Kacharu area in Sundargarh district on Sunday midnight.
A herd of elephants also damaged four houses in that area, including the house of the deceased woman. Tension prevailed in the area after the incident. Sources said a five- member elephant herd had entered into Bijubandh village at Kacharu area under Kuanrmunda forest range on Sunday midnight.
Forest officials, who were camping in that village, tried to drive them away but two elephants entered into two houses. The persons who were present in that house fled while the elephants damaged it.
Another group of three elephants entered into another house and crushed an elderly women to death there.
They again damaged another house of the area.
The deceased was identified as Basumati Badaik. Kuanrmunda forest range RK Das reached the spot as tension prevailed in the area. Police officials of Kuanrmunda police outpost sent the body for mortem. Rs 20,000 was paid to her family members for her cremation.
“We are now keeping a watch on the elephant herd,” said range officer Das.