Dhenkanal: A herd of wild elephants trampled a couple to death inside a cashew forest in Kateni area under the Sadar Forest Range early on Tuesday morning.
Dambaru Pradhan and his wife Sukanti, of Chaulia village, had gone to Dudhukateni village on a bike to witness the Dola Yatra there on Monday night. While returning home early next morning, the couple came face to face with a herd of wild elephants inside the cashew forest.
The couple panicked and tried to flee but were attacked by the herd. Sukanti died on the spot, while residents rescued Dambaru and admitted him to the district headquarters where he succumbed to his injuries.
Irate residents alleged that despite frequent elephant attack incidents in their area, the forest department has not taken any permanent step to drive them away.
