BALASORE: A herd of three elephants from Jharkhand wreaked havoc in Nilagiri and Remuna areas in Balasore district killing one person and injuring four others on Tuesday.
Sudam Majhi (55), a native of Baisinga area of Mayurbhanj district, was trampled to death near his relative’s house at Teraldihi village under Nilagiri police limits. Majhi had come to witness the Rath Yatra at Nilagiri.
Sources said three elephants had entered the village. While Majhi was trying to drive away a tusker, another elephant lifted him and threw him on the road. He died on the spot. Forest Department sources said family of the deceased will get ex gratia of `two lakh.
The same elephant herd had raided Khaparapada and Puanlahati villages under Remuna police limits on Monday night on their way to Kuldiha reserve forest in Balasore from Betnoti range in Mayurbhanj.
While four persons including two children of Puanlahati were hurt in the elephant attack, the animals damaged four houses and destroyed properties worth lakhs of rupees. The injured are undergoing treatment at Balasore Hospital.
DFO Harshabardhan Udgata said two teams of
forest personnel have been engaged to drive away the elephants. “The animals which were chased from Durgadevi area of Remuna on Monday night now are stationed at Ayodhya forest,” he added.