Dhenkanal: Even after an operation that lasted over three days, forest officials have failed to tranquilise a tusker that has by now killed three people, injured seven apart from damaging paddy crops and houses in villages under Dihadol forest section of Mahabirod range in Dhenkanal division.
A special team has been trying to tranquilise the pachyderm, but with little success. This has led to resentment among villagers, especially farmers, who have warned of an agitation.
Meanwhile, the tusker is growing ill after injuring one of its legs in bid to escape tranquilisation.
A team led by Dhenkanal DFO Sudarshan Patra, ACF Jitendra Nath Das, OUAT professor Indramani Nath, Kamakhyanagar (eastern) ranger Satyanarayan Sahu, Mahabirod ranger Harmohan Nayak, veterinary officer Ranjit Kumar Sahu, foresters Biswanath Soren, Ajit Dalei, Ramchandra Rout and Aravind Majhi were present during the operation.
“The tusker has been on a killing spree. It also has hurt its leg. So, we are trying to tranquilise it,” the DFO said.
Panic has gripped the residents who refrain from going out of their houses after sunset. Some have even stopped going to work in farms.
The tusker had trampled an elderly woman, Nirupama Biswal, to death at Khalibahal Sahi under Kandarsingh panchayat December 10. Similarly, Suresh Behera was left battling for life while his wife, Chanti Behera, was killed in the tusker’s attack December 13.
PNN