Khurda/Angul: At least two persons were killed while another sustained critical injuries in an elephant attack in Haja panchayat of Khurda district late last night.
The deceased have been identified as Bansidhar Chhualsingh of Haja village and Sanatan Pradhan of Kalarajhara village in the district. Injured, Brajakishore Sahoo is currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS Bhubaneswar after being administered preliminary treatment at Khurda Hospital.
As per reports, Chhualsingh and Pradhan had gone to attend nature’s call when the tusker trampled them to death.
Following the incident, locals alleged inaction by the forest department and blocked Haja-Ranpur road by burning tyres. They also demanded compensation for the kin of the deceased.
A pachyderm has been reportedly on rampage in Angul. As per reports, the tusker has been damaging houses and standing crops in large tracts of land at Ghantapada village and its nearby villages under Talcher forest division. The elephant has also reportedly damaged a school building in the region.
Locals alleged that though they have intimated the matter to the concerned department, the forest officials are yet to take any steps to ward off the elephant.
“The elephant has been creating ruckus in Ghantapada area since the last five days forcing the locals to stay indoors after 7 pm. The elephant has already damaged around 12 to 15 houses in the region,” alleged a villager of Ghantapada, Jinesh Sahoo.
On the other hand, the forest department has said that a team has already been formed and the big animal will be captured soon.
“A male tusker has strayed into the region since the last five-six days. The Chief Wildlife Warden has permitted us to capture and translocate it. Accordingly, a technical team has been formed. The animal will be located, tranquilised and captured soon,” informed a forest official of Angul division, Kartik.V.
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