DEOGARH: A 35-year-old woman was trampled to death and three of her family members sustained injuries after an elephant, in search of food, entered their house in Tileipasi village under Kundeigola forest section of Reamal range in Deogarh district on Tuesday morning.
The incident took place around 2 am when the family was asleep and a tusker, which roamed around the village in search of food, broke the wall of their house.
The deceased was identified as Pooja Mahar (35). The injured were her husband Jitu Mahar (42) and their two sons Debasish (5) and Pratyush Mahar (9).
Sources said Jitu and the two children sustained injury after the wall fell on them whereas the pachyderm dragged Pooja and trampled her to death as she tried to escape unsuccessfully. Irate villagers then drove the elephant away and informed the Forest department.
Subsequently, the three injured were rushed to Chhendipada Community Health Centre before being shifted to Angul district headquarters hospital. Their condition is stated to be stable.
Meanwhile, the incident triggered severe resentment among the villagers who alleged negligence by the Forest department.
Range officer of Reamal Niranjan Dharua said, the family will be provided compensation and medical assistance as per government guidelines. “We request people not to panic. Our staff are working to trace the elephant and keep it away from human habitation,” he added.
Earlier on January 14, a 50-year-old woman was trampled to death by an elephant in Sanghapasi village of Chadeimara gram panchayat under Kundeigola in the same range.