At least seven persons were injured when they had gone in a team for tranquilizing an ailing tusker whose right front leg has swollen as a scooter tyre remains stuck to it for last 15 days in Athagarh forests.
The team, comprising forest officials besides OUAT Professor Indramani Nath, snake helpline staff Suvendu Mallick and Nandankanan officials, was to first tranquilise the pachyderm and later remove the tyre on Tuesday afternoon.
However, on seeing them, the pachyderm which was resting in a thorny cashew jungle of Bauda-Banakhandi area got berserk and chased them. While running to safety, forest guard Pramod Nayak was trampled and left grievously injured while the rest members in the team, including Athagarh forest range officer Gouragopal Si, OUAT Prof Nath, scribe Santosh Barik and Sandeep Mohanty fell down and were injured. After fast aid treatment, they were discharged except Nayak.
Range officer Si told that they would leave the pachyderm free for next two to three days. After tranquillising the animal, the tyre would be removed, he added.