Baripada: Tension flared up at Bhanjakia Colony under Raruan block in Mayurbhanj district after a 60-year-old woman died during an elephant attack Monday. She was identified as Gurubari Ho.
Sources said the incident occurred Sunday night when a herd of elephants strayed into the village and destroyed crops. Meanwhile, a few elephants damaged Gurubari’s house while she was asleep.
A portion of a wall caved in on Gurubari, leaving her critically injured. The pachyderms also ransacked Jagannath Mohant’s house in the village.
Locals drove away the elephants by bursting firecrackers. Gurubari was admitted to Jashipur health centre where she succumbed to her injuries Monday morning.
Gurubari’s death sparked tension among the locals who blocked Jashipur main road demanding compensation to the bereaved family. The agitators continued their stir from 5 AM to 4 PM. Traffic came to a standstill as hundreds of vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the road.
Later, Jashipur IIC Sarat Chandra Mahalik, Gudugudia range officer Madhusudan Patra and Rarua IIC Piyal Behera reached the spot and pacified the agitators.
The blockade was called off after Patra assured the agitators of compensation to the bereaved family.
Later, more than 30 forest officials were deployed in the village to drive away the animals on the insistence of locals. The locals also helped the forest officials in driving away the herd.
Police registered a case of unnatural death and sent the body for post-mortem. PNN
