925 People Died In Elephant Attacks In Odisha Which Saw 784 Jumbo Deaths In 10 Years

Bhubaneswar: At least 925 people died in elephant attacks in Odisha in the last 10 years, while the state recorded 784 jumbo deaths during the same period, the state Assembly was informed on Tuesday.

The state has 1976 elephants as per 2017 census, Forest, Environment and Climate change Minister Pradip Amat said.

Replying to a question from BJP legislator Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, the Ministre said 925 people were killed and 212 became physically disabled in elephant attacks in the state between 2012 and 2022.

The number of human casualties increased from 80 in 2012-13 to 105 in 2017-18 and 112 in 2021-22.

The highest number of 139 persons died of jumbo attacks in  2020-21, while 117 people were killed in such incidents in 2019-20 and 112 in 2021-22.

Similarly, the number of people, who became permanently disabled in elephant attacks, has also gone up from five in 2012-13 to 51 in 2021-22 in the state.

Apart from loss of human lives in jumbo attacks, Odisha also reported the death of 784 elephants in the last 10 years, the Minister said.

While 82 jumbos died in 2012-13, the number rose to 86 in 2015-16, 93 in 2018-19 and 86 in 2021-22.

The state government conducted investigation into 39 elephant death incidents and filed charge sheets against 50 people during the period. However, not a single accused has been convicted in these cases so far, the Minister said.