Wild Elephant Tramples Women in Odisha Forest, Three Dead
A devastating attack by a wild elephant in Odisha has resulted in the deaths of three women and left three others in critical condition. The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Patpuri reserve forest, located within the Dhenkanal Sadar forest division.
Details of the Tragic Incident
According to forest department officials, a group of six women from Lochapali village had ventured deep into the forest to collect firewood. Around noon, a lone tusker suddenly emerged and trampled them in a matter of minutes. Three of the women died on the spot, while the remaining three sustained severe injuries.
The deceased have been identified as:
- Indu Pradhan
- Tuni Behera
- Kuntala Pradhan
The injured victims were immediately rushed to the district headquarters hospital, where they are reported to be in serious condition. Police have lodged a case of unnatural death and conducted postmortem examinations of the deceased.
Forest Department Response and Compensation
A forest officer stated that frequent elephant movement had been noticed in the area, but this was the first such fatal incident in the locality. Officials confirmed that family members of the deceased will receive compensation as per government provisions.
Human-Elephant Conflict in Odisha
This tragic event highlights the ongoing human-elephant conflict in Odisha, which has one of the highest rates of such incidents in India. In July of last year, three people were trampled to death by a tusker in the Hindol area, sparking protests across the region.
Official statistics from Odisha's forest department reveal the scale of this conflict:
- Between 2012 and 2022, 925 people were killed by elephants and 212 were permanently disabled.
- During the same period, 784 elephant deaths were recorded in the state.
- In the 2024-25 period alone, 153 human deaths and 94 elephant deaths were reported.
The recurring nature of these incidents underscores the urgent need for effective strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and protect both communities and wildlife in forested regions of Odisha.
