3 injured in elephant attack in Dhenkanal

Dhenaknal: Panic gripped Latadeipur village under Sadangi forest range of Dhenkanal district after three villagers were critically injured in an elephant attack on Thursday.

The injured – Sanjib Kar, Sabita Satpathy and Bhuta Mallick – were rushed to the Dhenkanal District Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Later Kar was shifted to the SCB Medical College and Hospital after his condition deteriorated.

The incident occurred when the trio was on their way to a nearby pond to take bath.

Though the Forest department had earlier advised villagers to remain indoors during morning and evening hours, it seems that such advisory have fallen on deaf ears. Villagers on the other hand claim that they have to come out of their houses for completing daily chores.

Pachyderms are now heading towards human settlements in search of food. This is leading to human-animal conflict and so far over seven persons have been killed in separate incidents of elephant attacks in the district.

“We are creating awareness among villagers in the areas on possible ways to avoid elephant attack,” said Chandramani Behera, deputy ranger, Dhenkanal.

An elderly woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Kauriapal village under Sadar forest range in the district last week. The incident occurred when the woman, who had gone to attend nature’s call, came in the way of the wild elephant.