Chandaka elephant ‘Yashoda’, which was recently successfully engaged for the purpose of tranquilising tigress ‘Sundari’ in the Satkosia forest in Angul district, trampled a man to death on Thursday.
The jumbo crushed Sudhir Pradhan (49) of Munda Sahi while he was offering food to the elephant in the premises of the Purunakote Forest Range office. Pradhan died on the spot, reports said.
On being informed, Forest Department officials and police rushed to the spot and started an investigation.
An ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh would be given to the family of the deceased, said the Angul DFO. Yashoda was taken from the Chandaka forest to Satkosia by a truck on November 2 in a bid to tranquilise tigress Sundari.