Berhampur: Two villagers were killed in an elephant attack at Jalmeripalli village under Digapahandi block of Odisha’s Ganjam district early on Sunday.
The deceased have been identified as Urmila Rout (49), wife of Seemanchal Rout, and Gopinath Pradhan (60).
According to sources, the incident took place at around 6 am when the duo was working in their vegetable field on the outskirts of the village. The lone tusker emerged from the nearby thicket trampled Urmila to death as she stumbled and fell down while trying to flee. The elephant then grabbed Gopinath with its trunk, slammed him to the ground twice, leaving him critically injured, before retreating into the forest.
Hearing the commotion, villagers rushed to the spot and immediately shifted the grievously injured victims to Digapahandi Community Health Centre. However, both succumbed to their injuries.
Ranger Rupak Kumar Pradhan of the Chandragiri Forest Division visited the site along with his team and initiated an inquiry. Meanwhile, Digapahandi police registered two unnatural death cases. Postmortem examinations were conducted at MKCG Medical College and Hospital, Berhampur, and the bodies were later handed over to the bereaved families.
The incident has intensified fear across the region, as the tusker has reportedly been creating panic for the past month in Bhismagiri, Chasanimakhandi, Sahadevtikarpada and Nimakhandipentha areas. It is suspected to have strayed from the herd of the Lakhari Elephant Sanctuary in neighbouring Gajapati district and entered Ganjam through Jhatikabada forest near Taptapani.
However, Digapahandi Ranger Dibya Ranjan Sahu said that the killer elephant could also be one among a group of four elephants currently moving inside Ratanei jungle. “We are closely tracking its movement to prevent further mishaps,” he said.
