Two villagers were trampled to death by wild elephants in the Bantala area of Angul district on Thursday. The two, including a woman, were identified as Dillip Pradhan and Kadali Moharana of Nuakheta village under the Bantala police station in the district. According to reports, the two villagers were trampled by the jumbos when they were collecting mangoes from their orchard on the outskirts of their village.
Following the death of the duo, irate villagers gheraoed Bantala Forest Office and ransacked the office along with vehicles demanding compensation and solar fencing in their village. Forest officials present over there tried to pacify the mob, but the angry villagers didn't pay heed to their requests. When the officials declared Rs3 lakh compensation to each deceased's family, the mob withdrew agitation.