Shergarh (Ganjam): An elderly man was trampled to death by a tusker near Chikili village under Shergarh police limits in Ganjam district early this morning.
He has been identified as Bhima Behera of Panchuani village.
According to sources, the incident occurred while Behera had been to forest to search for his cattle that had been grazing nearby.
He came close to the pachyderm unknowingly that tossed him in the air before trampling him to death, according to locals.
Behera died on the spot.
The incident came to fore after his family members went out to search for him since he did not come back home for long. He was seen lying dead in the forest.
On being informed, Shergarh Forester Subhashree Satapathy, Dhabalpur Revenue Inspector (RI) and Shergarh Tehsildar D. Dayasindhu Parida reached the spot and pacified the grieving family members.
Local police also reached the spot and launched a probe into the matter. A case of unnatural death was registered and the body was sent to Aska sub-divisional hospital for autopsy.