Other States   

Wild tusker tramples three to death

BHUBANESWAR: In yet another incident of human-elephant conflict three villagers were trampled to death by a wild tusker inside the dense Barbara forests in Khurda district on Sunday.

According to Divisional Forest Officer of Khurda Division G. Rajesh, the incident occurred around 7.30 pm on Sunday when the villagers were passing through the forest to attend a marriage.

The tusker attacked the victims one after the other on the forest road killing them on the spot. Two of the victims belonged to Mandara village, while the third victim hailed from nearby Bignaput hamlet.

As an emergent relief measure, the Forest Department provided Rs. 2,000 each to the families of the deceased to perform the last rites.

A compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each would be given to the three families after they produced the death certificates.

The incident created panic in the region as the villagers were apprehending further attacks by the tusker.

The tusker along with four other elephants was spotted inside Barbara forest a few days ago. The herd had come to Barbara from the forests in neighbouring Ganjam district.

A specially trained group of forest staff with necessary equipment and lights had been sent to the spot after the incident to chase away the wild tusker from near the human habitats in the periphery of Barbara forest, Mr. Rajesh said.

The forest department was also using the public address system to tell the villagers in the affected area to take precautions and avoid travelling through the road route at night.

On the other hand, the people living in Khalikote area of Ganjam district were also living in fear for the past several weeks.

A large herd of 18 elephants from the Chandaka forest on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar had reached the area.

The herd had got divided into three small groups and was moving in different directions in the region.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Wild tusker tramples three to death
Book Fair
Costly fruit
Acharya denied bail
Nurses week
Companionship

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu