Debgarh (14 January 2025): In a tragic incident, a woman, Kuni Behera (50), lost her life in an elephant attack in Sanghapashi village under the Chhadeimara Panchayat of the Kundheigola Forest Range. The incident occurred late at night when two tusker elephants caused havoc in the village. The elephants intruded into the maize field near the deceased's house and started feeding.
Kuni Behera, who noticed the elephants while trying to free the cattle tied in her house, was attacked by one of the elephants. The tusker charged at her, trampling and throwing her to the ground.
Forest officer Tapan Nayak and his team reached the scene upon receiving the news and managed to chase away the elephants. The injured woman was rushed to Anugul in an ambulance, where she was declared dead by the doctors. The local community is in mourning, and there is growing unrest in the area due to frequent elephant attacks. The government has been urged to take immediate action to address the issue.
Earlier incidents in the region have seen fatalities in Kanjiaamba and the neighboring Anugul district's Baghubul village. The continuous elephant menace has led to rising discontent among the residents.
