Bhubaneswar: A person died after being trampled by a rogue elephant that had separated from its herd at Purbapada village in Balasore district. Two others also sustained severe injuries in the attack.
According to reports, the wild elephant strayed into the villages of Notapada and Bateśwar villages under Khaira block in Balasore district in search of food, causing widespread panic and destruction.
The elephant damaged trees and chased locals, resulting in the death of Surendra Das from Purbapada village.
The incident has sparked concerns about the forest department’s negligence, with locals blaming the Forest department authorities for failing to prevent the elephant’s entry into the village.
Meanwhile, the concerned forest officials have launched efforts to drive the elephant back into the forest.
It is learnt that two elephants from Keonjhar had entered the village in search of food, but one returned to the forest yesterday, leaving the other behind.
The incident highlights the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, with elephants increasingly venturing into human settlements in search of food and shelter.
