Morada: Human-elephant conflict has reached alarming levels in Morada block of Mayurbhanj district, with increasing loss of life and property reported daily.
According to sources, a woman was killed in an attack by a tusker near the Astia rubber plantation under Rasgobindpur range.
The deceased was identified as Rina Naik, 45, of Poda-Astia village in Baripada sub-division. Rina was returning home along with four others in an e-rickshaw Saturday night after visiting relatives at Amarda.
At around 10:45pm, when their vehicle reached near an electric pole close to the Astia rubber plantation on the Baripada–Chitrada–Amarda state highway, a herd of seven elephants was crossing the road. Seeing the vehicle, a tusker charged at it.
Also Read: Injured tusker dies
While others fled the auto-rickshaw in panic, Rina remained inside. In an attempt to turn the vehicle, the driver lost control and the auto overturned. The tusker then attacked Rina, leaving her critically injured.
She was rushed to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital in Baripada, where she died around midnight, ranger Ghanashyam Singh said.
Singh added that the victim’s family has been provided an interim compensation of Rs 1 lakh, with a total ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to be released in due course.
PNN
