Pallahara: In a shocking incident, a man was gored to death by a tusker while he was clicking pictures of the pachyderm on his mobile phone.
The animal strayed into Nuapada village under Deogarh forest division in Angul district after getting separated from its herd.
The deceased was identified as Jayakrushna Naik (45) of Nimiribeda village.
According to sources, a herd of elephants had strayed into a forest near the village in search of food Sunday night.
However, the tusker lost its way and was found near the local temple. On learning the matter, locals thronged to see the animal and tried to click its pictures. Being alerted, the local forest officials reached the village and tried to drive away the pachyderm into the forest.
The overjoyed locals pelted stones at the animal and tried to click its pictures despite repeated warnings from forest officials. Meanwhile, Naik happened to pass by and he too joined the locals and tried to click pictures. The animal grew furious due to repeated stone pelting and flashing from mobile phone cameras and attacked the locals. All of them ran helter-skelter to save their lives. Meanwhile, Naik fell down while trying to escape and was gored to death by the tusker.
Locals rescued Naik in a critical condition and rushed him to local community health centre with his intestine gouged out. However, doctor’s declared him dead upon arrival.
The incident spread tension in the area as locals demanded compensation for Naik’s family and a job to the next of his kin. Police reached the spot and brought the situation under control. PNN
