A man sustained critical injuries after being attacked by an elephant at Lokanathpur village under Telkoi forest range in Keonjhar district on Friday night.
The injured person, identified as Chhabi Kisan, son of Ashirtta Kisan of the village, is undergoing treatment at the surgery department of the Government Medical College and Hospital in the district.
According to sources, on Friday night, a herd of 13 elephants had strayed into Batakudar Sahi, located in the middle of Lokanathpur and Chhamunda areas under the Telkoi Forest range, possibly in search of food. After spotting the jumbos, village youths tried to chase them away from the village. During the operation, Chhabi Kisan accidentally came in front of an elephant. The wild animal took him in its trunk and tossed him into the air.
Later, a forest department team reached the spot, rescued a critically injured Chhabi, and shifted him to the Government Medical College and Hospital in the district.