A 55-year-old woman of Sundargarh district, who had lost her husband in elephant attack about four months back, also became a victim of elephant attack and lost her life, when she was sleeping at her house, under Kuarnmunda forest range, late on Thursday night. A team of forest officials and local police recovered the body and handed it over to her kin, after post mortem.
Sources said a six-member elephant herd was camping in Kacharu area under Kuanrmunda forest range area since last couple of days. On Thursday evening, a team of forest officials of Kuanrmunda forest range had started an operation to drive them away. At about 1.30 am, when the elephants were crossing Kacharu market area, four elephants had gone one way whereas two others had moved towards two separate directions. One of the separated elephants returned back, after seeing a gathering of locals on his way and reached again the Kacharu area.
The female elephant attacked one house located near a canal and entered into the house. The elephant lifted the woman sleeping on a cot by her trunk and threw her on the floor, following which the woman died on the spot. The deceased was identified as Pyari Beg.
Significantly, Pyari Beg’s husband Yakub Beg had also died in elephant attack at the same place, about four months back.
“We have given Rs 20,000 as advance amount to her family members, towards the cremation expenses,” said Kuanrmunda forest range officer RK Das. “Her family members would be given rest Rs 2,80,000, towards compensation after they complete necessary formalities.” Das added.