Elderly woman killed in elephant attack in Dhenkanal

Dhenkanal: Tension prevailed after an elderly woman was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Kauriapal village under Sadar forest range here in the district on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Satyabati Swain.

The incident occurred when Swain, who had gone to attend nature's call, came in the way of the elephant.

"The elephant is injured and may be for this reason it has become aggressive and attacking people," said a local villager.

It is suspected that the elephant might have been injured after being hit by a train while crossing the railway tracks near the forest in the region.

Locals alleged that elephant attacks in the district have assumed serious proportions in the district. At least seven persons have been killed in separate elephant attacks in the past one week.