Dhenkanal: At least three persons were killed in two separate incidents of elephant attack in the state today.
In the first incident, two persons were trampled by a wild jumbo in Dihadola forest close to IGIT Sarang under Mahabirod Forest Range in Dhenkanal. Sources said, three inmates of Khandanal Ashram had gone to bathe in a nearby river in the wee hours today when they came face to face with a herd of wild elephants that had strayed into the river bed near the forest.
While one of them managed to escape, two others were trampled to death by the wild pachyderms. The one who survived said that nearly 40 elephants have been seen in the area for the last two weeks.
Alleging negligence on part of the forest officials, local residents launched a protest and demanded compensation.
Forest officials including Mahabirod Ranger assessed the situation. Bodies of the deceased have been recovered and probe has begun, informed a senior forest official.
In a similar incident at the Karangabhatta village in Nuapada district, one person was killed by a pachyderm when he had gone out to the woods to answer nature's call.