A truck driver was trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Raigarh district on Monday, a forest official said.
The incident took place around 5:30 am near Bojiya village on Gharghoda-Chhal road under Chhal forest range, said Pranay Mishra, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dharamjaigarh division.
As per preliminary information, the victim identified as Sanoj Ram (35) had parked the truck on the side of the road that passes through dense forest after it broke down and was sleeping inside the cabin, he said.
A herd of wild elephants suddenly came out of the forest and charged at his truck and tried to smash it. The elephants broke the truck’s windshield with its trunk following which the driver jumped out of the vehicle through its window and tried to escape from the spot. But the elephants chased him and caught hold of him and trampled him to death on the spot, the DFO added.
Soon after being alerted, forest and police personnel reached to the spot and sent the body for post mortem, he said.
The deceased was a native of Aurangabad district of Bihar. His relatives have been informed about the incident, he said.
The compensation will be provided to the kin of the deceased after they come to Raigarh, he added.