Jhumpura/Joda: After a brief hiatus, an elephant separated from its herd has been causing mayhem in Bamebari section under Champua range in Keonjhar district. The animal claimed the life of a person Saturday evening.
The deceased was identified as Srikant Nayak (40) of Kaijoda village. Srikant was out to answer the call of nature near a forest when the elephant trampled him to death.
On being informed, Bamebari forester Jatindra Sahu visited the spot while the body was sent to Keonjhar for post-mortem. The forest department says that the next of kin of the deceased will be provided Rs 4 lakh as government assistance.
Three elephants have been unleashing a reign of terror in Champua, Keonjhar and Bhuyan Juanga Pidhi ranges. A forest official said that as these elephants have been moving separately, it is difficult to keep track of them.
In the last few days, elephants have killed three people in the area. They have damaged several houses and crops in acres of land.
The animals have taken away the sleep of the farmers with crops in large tracts of farmland being eaten and destroyed every day. Locals alleged that the forest officials have failed to drive away the animals.
PNN