Dhenkanal: In a tragic incident, three women were killed and three others critically injured after being attacked by a wild elephant inside a forest in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Tuesday.
As per preliminary information, the incident took place when the women were collecting firewood near Lochapali village of Patpuri forest under the Sadar range.
The deceased have been identified as Indu Pradhan, Tuni Behera, and Kuntala Pradhan. The injured – Rama Dehuri, Rasmita Pradhan, and Jhili Pradhan – are undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital (DHH) in Dhenkanal. Their condition was stated to be critical.
Sources said six women had gone inside the forest to collect firewood when they the elephant suddenly appeared and attacked them. Three of them reportedly died on the spot. The injured were rescued by the forest department team and immediately admitted to the hospital.
Forest department officials visited the area shortly after getting information about the tragic incident. They have initiated an investigation into the incident.
Officials said a patrolling team of the forest department rescued the women immediately after the jumbo attack, but three women lost their lives.
