Elderly woman trampled to death by wild tusker in Chhendiapda forest

FROM BKROUT

ANGUL: A 64-year-old woman was trampled to death by am wild tusker at a forest near Khairabereni village under Chhendipada forest range limit at early morning today.

Tension prevailed in the village over the inaction of the forest department in chasing the elephant herd which has been causing havoc in the area for last several days.

According to Ranger, Pratap Roul the deceased has been identified as Saila Dehury,64 of village Khairabereni.

He said Saila and two others women of the village went nearby forest to collect mango at about 4 am today. They confronted with the herd of elephant while going to collect mango. They started running at the site of the herd while two other women ran away Sailed fell down and were attacked by a tusker. There are several injury marks on her body and she died on the spot

“Our squad was following the herd and when came to know of the incident they went to the spot. They found the woman dead and went away. They informed the police and also to me. I rushed to the spot and pacified the villagers who were tense over the movement of elephant herd in their village area. The deceased family will be paid ex-gratia as per the government rule”Roul said.

Roul said, “We are making concerted efforts to drive the elephant herd away from the area. The herd   has been moving into Chhendipada and Deogarh area for last several months and destroying huge properties of the villagers”.