Villagers block road after elephant tramples temple priest, woman to death in Odisha

The incidents took place in Ichhabatipur village close to Kamakshaynagar reserve forests and both victims were killed within half-an-hour of each other.
Angry villagers prevented traffic movement by keeping the two bodies on the Pandua-Jiral road and demanded a compensation for kin of the deceased. (EPS)
Angry villagers prevented traffic movement by keeping the two bodies on the Pandua-Jiral road and demanded a compensation for kin of the deceased. (EPS)

BHUBANESHWAR: An elephant trampled a temple priest and a middle-aged woman, in separate incidents, on Friday morning, triggering angry protests and a road blockade in Kamakshaynagar in Dhenkanal district.

The incidents took place in Ichhabatipur village close to Kamakshaynagar reserve forests and both victims were killed within half-an-hour of each other.

The first victim, Surendra Nayak, a 75-year-old village priest was plucking flowers inside the temple premises where the elephant was already present, while the second victim, Patali Behera (50) was relieving herself.

Despite police and forest personnel present at the spot, angry villagers prevented traffic movement by keeping the two bodies on the Pandua-Jiral road and demanded a compensation for kin of the deceased.

They also sought regular patrolling in the village route to ward off stray elephants and slammed the forest department for neither organising awareness camps nor informing people about the movement of elephant herds, which often results in crop destruction.

Assistant Conservator of Forests J Patnaik, attempted to pacify the villagers and said forest staff will be deployed in the village and will attempt to tranquillise the pachyderm.

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The New Indian Express
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