Tusker tramples three to demise in Odisha

A tusker went on a rampage trampling three folks — together with two girls — to demise in #Odisha’s #Dhenkanal district, one in every of worst affected by human-elephant battle within the nation.

Enraged by the deaths, villagers got here out in open and blocked National Highway connecting #Cuttack and #Sambalpur on Thursday morning.

The tragic incident befell in Baghadharia village on Thursday early morning, when victims recognized as Jhulana Dehuri, Karunakar Dehuri and Sashi Sahu had gone to a pond to take tub. However, they unintentionally stumbled upon the tusker that had been roaming alone.

The elephant trampled three villagers one after one other. While two died on the spot, one died within the hospital. As the folks expressed deep anguish over the incident, forester Rasol Beat Lusimita Singh was suspended.

Forest and Environment Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Although the Forest Department has deployed numerous trackers to watch elephant actions, villagers allege that the exact places of the animals will not be being successfully communicated to them.

Since April this yr, wild elephants have claimed the lives of ten folks within the State, together with a pair. Between 2014-15 and 2024-25, #Odisha recorded 1,209 fatalities as a result of elephant assaults.

Last month, the #Odisha authorities elevated the ex gratia compensation for deaths brought on by wild animal assaults from ₹6 lakh to ₹10 lakh.