Keonjhar: Three people were killed in separate elephant attacks in Joda block of Keonjhar district. In the first incident, two persons, Santosh Munda and Reena Munda, were trampled to death by a stray elephant in Guali panchayat while collecting leaves in a nearby forest.
The victims, from Kendudihi Mundavasti, were attacked by the elephant, which resulted in their instant deaths. Locals clashed with the forest department staff over their delayed response to the incident.
In another incident, a youth was killed in an elephant attack in Kalimati, Joda Block, under Champua Range. Although locals claimed the victim was from the area, his identity could not be confirmed. The elephant attacks have raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region.
