Dhenkanal: A woman was trampled to death by a tusker at Kankadasoda, Mundamala Sahi village under Mahabirod forest range in Dhenkanal district in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Uma Gadnaik (50), wife of Amin Gadnaik. Her family members managed to escape the attack, ACF Maheswar Patnaik said.
Family members rescued her in a critical condition and rushed her with much difficulty to Parjang community health centre as the village lacks a commutable road.
Later, doctors shifted her to Manadapala hospital in Talcher after her condition worsened. However, doctors pronounced her dead after on arrival at the Talcher hospital.
The incident sparked tension in the area as family members, relatives and villagers led by the village committee president Jaladhar Singh, sarpanch Pabitra Sahu placed the body at Dihadola Square and blocked the National Highway-53 and Badakamar- Pangatira road for over three hours.
They demanded relief from elephant attacks and urged the authorities to equip them with torch lights and firecrackers to help them drive away elephants from human habitations. The protesters also sought compensation for crop loss of the villagers caused by elephants.
The villagers alleged they always had to live in an atmosphere of fear as the village lies close to a forest.
Tehsildar Lalit Mohan Behera, forest ranger Suresh Chandra Behera, Dihadola forester Haramohan Nayak and SI Anadi Charan Pattayat rushed to the spot and assured the agitators of looking into their demands. Forester Nayak gave away an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 to the bereaved family.
The incident occurred when the family members were in sleep. A herd of elephants entered the village at about 4 am. Amin and his two sons were sleeping in a room while Uma and two daughters were sleeping in another room.
The family members woke up from sleep when a tusker started pulling down their house. They were trying to flee but a tusker trampled Uma to death. PNN
