Korba, Jan 14 (PTI) A 40-year-old man was killed by awild elephant in ChhattisgarhÂ’s Korba district, officials saidtoday.
The incident took place late last evening in Kartalaforest range when the victim, identified as Kalashram Rathiya,was heading towards Beharchua village on his bicycle, KorbaDivision Forest Officer (DFO) S Venkatachalam said.
Rathiya, a native of Sardukala village, was going toBeharchua to take part in a local festival when he encounteredthe elephant, the official said.
The victim tried to escape but the elephant chased himand hit him with its trunk, leaving Rathiya dead on the spot,the official said.
Rathiya's kin have been given an instant relief amountof Rs 25,000 by the forest department, the DFO said.
He informed that the movement of a group of elephantshas been reported in the area over the last few days andvillagers had been advised to be alert.
The thick forested northern regions of Chhattisgarh,comprising Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Koreadistricts, is infamous for human elephant conflicts.
Several people have been killed and houses andstanding crops have been damaged in these incidents. PTI CORTKPBNM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.