Sambalpur: Human–elephant conflict claimed another life in Sambalpur district on Friday night after a man was trampled to death in Jujumura Block.
The victim, identified as 35-year-old Israel Lugun of Sapdagar village under the Jamloi Beat of Chamunda Section in the Padiabahal forest range, had stepped out to guard his crops when the incident occurred.
According to local sources, Israel had finished dinner around 9 pm and gone to his field when he suddenly encountered a wild elephant. The animal attacked him, inflicting severe injuries. Villagers immediately rushed him to the Jujumura Community Health Centre, but doctors declared him dead on arrival.
The tragedy has intensified fear and concern in the region, which has been witnessing repeated elephant incursions.
Just five days earlier, on November 16, another resident of Jujumura Block, 62-year-old Rathi Chhura of Budiakata, was killed by an elephant while collecting firewood in a nearby forest.
With two fatal attacks reported within a week, villagers are urging authorities to step up monitoring and deploy adequate measures to prevent further loss of life.
