Lanjigada/ Kuanrmunda: Two men, including a farmer, were killed in separate elephant attacks in Kalahandi and Sundaragada districts, forest officials said.
In Kalahandi district, 55-year-old farmer Drimba Majhi was trampled to death Saturday by a tusker while visiting his cotton field at Bethiapada village under the Bijepur forest range, officials said. Majhi had gone to his field, about 500 metres from his home, around 8am to inspect his crop when he encountered the elephant. The animal reportedly dragged and trampled him near the field.
Some women villagers later found Majhi’s body on a road and spotted two elephants nearby. They alerted his family and other villagers, following which forest and police officials reached the spot and began an investigation. Police registered an unnatural death case (7/2026) at Bijepur police station.
The body was sent for a post-mortem examination and later handed over to the family. In a separate incident in Sundaragada district, 66-year-old Cyril Kulu was killed after being attacked by a wild elephant at Bishratoli under Jhunmur village, forest officials said. Kulu had gone to a nearby forest around 6am to relieve himself when he reportedly encountered the elephant.
The animal dragged him with its trunk and killed him. Biramitrapur Forest Range Officer Sudeshna Pradhan reached the spot after being informed of the incident and initiated an investigation. A case (2/26) was registered at the forest range office.