Ex-Sarpanch trampled to death in Sundergarh

Rourkela: An ex-Sarpanch was trampled to death by a tusker at Harpali village under Kuanrmunda Forest Range in Sundergarh district this morning.

The deceased identified as Ramka Oram, former Sarpanch of Kacharu Gram Panchayat, was the member of a squad formed to drive away pachyderms. The incident occurred when he was driving away an elephant along with other forest officials.

On receiving information, police reached the spot and seized the dead body.

Angry over the incident, locals met the Kuanrmunda Forest Range Officer and demanded a permanent solution to the elephant menace. "Several people are being killed by elephants in this area every year. Provision of compensation is not a permanent solution. A special corridor should be established for the elephants," said a villager.