Elephant herd tramples man to death in Dhepapalli, India - third fatality in 15 days

Elephant on a bad day.

A herd of elephants trampled Kasi Nath, 70, to death at Dhepapalli, 80 km from here, under Ganjam district's Sorada forest range yesterday.

Patra was going to catch a bus to Sorada when he confronted the wild elephants. He died on the spot, said divisional forest officer (DFO), Ghumusar South, R K Mallick. He said the kin of the deceased would get Rs 3 lakh as compensation in tune with government policy.

The herd also damaged maize crops. This was the third death in the district by elephants in last 15 days. A wild tusker crushed two persons to death at Dolaba, 40 km from here, near Digapahandi on March 4. While one died on the spot, the other succumbed to his injuries at MKCG Medical College and Hospital here the next day.

The DFO said a herd of nine elephants, a tusker, four females and four calves, are moving in Sorada jungles in search of food and water. The herd might have migrated from Lakhari valley elephant reserve, said forest range officer (Sorada) K C Sahu.

Since the herd is camping in the nearby jungle, a 10-member squad to drive away the jumbos has been deployed in the area, Sahu said. Forest officials have asked people through loudspeakers not to venture into the jungle.