Farmer Crushed To Death By Elephant Herd In Odisha’s Bolangir

A 47-year-old man was trampled to death while two others sustained minor injuries after being attacked by a herd of elephants at Bhalupali village under Loisinga block of Bolangir district early morning on Monday.

The deceased Gopal Podha, was a farmer of Bhalupalli. Two other persons also from the same village have been given preliminary treatment after sustaining injuries during the incident.

As per reports, all three of them were going to the farmland in the morning when they suddenly faced off with a herd of pachyderms that had strayed into the nearby human settlements.

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They tried to outrun the elephants and during the process, Gopal came under direct attack of the jumbos and was trampled to death at the spot. The other two somehow managed to escape the irate animals in the nick of time. 

The group of jumbos from a nearby forest has been creating havoc in Bhalupali, Jogisarda and Badibahal villages under Loisinga forest range of the district since last week.

The elephant herd has destroyed standing paddy in acres of agricultural land and damaged many houses and other property in the village.
The villagers have alleged that despite repeated complaints, the forest officials have not taken any steps to drive away the jumbos.