In yet another elephant attack in Sundargarh district, a 35-year-old person was trampled to death in Biramitrapur forest range of Rourkela forest division, during late night on Monday.
Similarly, a tusker damaged one house whereas the house owner was injured in Bargaon forest range, also on the day.
The body of the youth was recovered from the spot by forest officials on Tuesday and was handed over to the family members after post mortem.
Sources said, a six member elephant herd, which has been creating panic among the villagers under Kuanrmunda forest range, had entered some village areas on Monday night. A team of forest officials were doing a drive- away operation.
Separated from group, one elephant on its way had entered in to a sugarcane field in lamkei village, under Biramitrapur forest range.
The owner of the sugarcane field, who was present on the spot to guard his sugarcane, had suddenly come in front of the elephant. The elephant crushed him under its feet, following which the youth died on the spot. The deceased was identified as Mukesh lugun (35).
DFO Sudhansu Swain said, "We have also paid an amount of Rs 20,000 to the deceased’s family members, towards funeral expenses, whereas the remaining amount of Rs 3.8 lakh, towards compensation, would be paid after completion of all formalities."
Similarly, a tusker entered into Koreibaga village and chased a person who had come in front of him. The tusker damaged the house, but the
person inside the house had escaped narrowly with minor injury.
Significantly, the elephant attack casualty in Rourkela forest division have gone up to as high as eleven persons, including the casualty on Monday night, since January.