Tusker kills divyang boy, critically injures mother in Odisha’s Khordha; forest dept's negligence alleged

Tension prevailed at Mahatapalla village in Khordha district after a wild elephant charged at a minor divyang boy, killing him on the spot while critically injuring his mother at about dawn on Monday.

Sources reported that Sulochana Martha was accompanying her son, Satyaranjan Martha when he had gone out to relieve himself. The two were just a few feet away from their house when a wild tusker charged at the boy. Unable to move out of harm’s way owing to his disability, he was subsequently trampled to death.

Upon witnessing the horror, Sulochana rushed to her son’s aid but was also attacked by the jumbo and sustained severe injuries. She was initially taken to Khordha District Hospital but was later transferred to the AIIMS hospital in Bhubaneswar due to the severity of her injuries.

Jaykrushna Panda, Forest Range Officer of Khordha Wildlife Division reiterated that an unforeseen circumstance led to the tragedy and assured full support of the government regarding ex gratia and treatment costs.

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“About 21 elephants are present near Bagheitangi while about 14 are roaming near Parichhala. They are regularly monitored with cameras but last night an incident at another village occupied, our staff during which one tusker from the larger group attacked the woman and her son,” he added.

Meanwhile, locals remained agitated around the site of the incident whereas Prakash Samantaray, the Block Vice-Chairman along with the village Sarpanch alleged negligence and lack of coordination between the forest department staff.

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“We have repeatedly informed the Forest Department about the presence of elephants near our village but they never took any note of it. No information was ever relayed to us about the movement of the herd. I have personally witnessed the complete lack of coordination of forest department officials,” he alleged.