A man, Ramesh lohar (45), of village Batapalasa in Mayurbhanj district was trampled to death by wild elephants on Thursday. He had gone to the forest under the Dudhiani range when he was attacked by the jumbos. His body was spotted by forest personnel on Friday.
A herd of 18 elephants, including two tuskers, coming from neighbouring Jharkhand forests over a year ago, is roaming in villages under the Karanjia forest division in Mayurbhanj and adjoining Keonjhar districts and causing damage to the crops and houses in the area.
Forest personnel with the help of local people often chase the jumbos away by blowing trumpets, beating drums and using other methods into the woods in adjoining areas. But the herd returns after two or three months, forest officials said.