BALASORE/BARIPADA: A tusker from Similipal biosphere spread terror in Palbani area of Mayurbhanj district on Sunday killing one person and injuring nine others including seven women and a child.
Sushen Baitha (65) of Purnachandrapur village, who sustained fracture in chest and legs in the elephant’s attack, was rushed to the district headquarters hospital but succumbed while undergoing treatment.
Eyewitness Dilip Mantri said the wild elephant attacked 10 people within half an hour. “The elephant went on a damaging spree and attacked whoever came on its way. It turned violent when the people pelted stones and attacked with batons in a bid to drive it away,” he said.
Of the injured persons, Saraswati Chhatri (58), Rajkumari Sahu (45) and Katia Kalandi (38) have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack after their condition deteriorated. While Chhatri sustained brain injury, Sahu had fractured bones.
Baripada DFO Sanjay Kumar Swain said it was a shocking incident. The tusker suddenly appeared on the road and attacked people returning from morning walk. “Sushen came across the tusker while he was going to his farmland,” he said.
Following the incident, the tusker has taken shelter in Gadikhamari reserve forest under Baripada division. A group of forest guards and senior staff are patrolling the forest to keep a watch on the movement of the elephant.
In another incident, Ambika Jena (13), daughter of Paramaswar Jena in Gambharia village was trampled to death by an elephant in Barasahi area. Another person Prafulla Samal of the same village sustained injuries.
Menace in Nilagiri
A herd of three elephants from Jharkhand has been wreaking havoc in Nilagiri of Balasore district damaging over 32 houses and properties in last one month.
The herd including two tuskers has been terrorising people in at least four villages close to Kuldiha reserve forest.
While the villagers have taken shelter in their relatives’ houses after their houses were damaged in the fresh elephant depredation, forest personnel have failed to drive them out.
The affected villagers alleged that they were yet to get any relief.