Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today revealed that as many as 1,209 people were killed due to elephant attacks between 2014-15 and 2024-25 in the state.
In response to a query by BJP MLA Prasanta Jagdev, Odisha Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia informed the State Assembly that the government has a provision of Rs 6 lakh compensation for the family of the victim.
Similarly, the government is providing Rs 20,000 per acre for paddy crop loss due to elephant menace and Rs 25,000 for the loss of cash crops. The compensation amount is being provided by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment. It has been implemented since 2023, the minister said.
In 2014-15, a total of 54 elephants died due to various reasons, including poaching, poisoning, electrocution, rail and road accidents, and diseases. The number of elephant deaths rose to 86 in 2015-16.
Similarly, 76 elephants died in 2016-17, 78 in 2017-18, 93 in 2018-19, and 82 in 2019-20. The government recorded 77 elephant deaths in 2020-21 and 86 deaths in the next year. In 2022-23, 93 pachyderms died, while 66 elephants died in 2023-24. The government recorded 97 elephant deaths in 2024-25 up to February 28, the minister stated.
