Odisha News: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Oct 21: In a tragic incident in Odisha, an elderly farmer was trampled to death by an elephant while he was guarding his paddy crops at a village in the Bashanpal block of Keonjhar district. Preliminary reports indicate that the incident occurred in the early hours at Kusakala village, located within the Keonjhar forest range. The deceased has been identified as Maheswar Mahanta.
Following this fresh attack, tensions have escalated in the area, with locals already on edge due to a herd of approximately 32 elephants roaming nearby. These wild elephants have caused significant destruction in Kushkala, Adal, Kalanda, and surrounding areas, damaging homes and crops. Villagers are taking measures to protect their fields by guarding them at night, often using drums and vessels to scare the animals away.
In response to the increasing elephant attacks, many farmers have resorted to constructing temporary shelters in trees. Unfortunately, Mahanta had reportedly climbed down from his perch to chase away some elephants that had entered his field when he was fatally trampled.
In the wake of this incident, angry locals staged a road blockade on Monday, expressing outrage that police and forest officials transported the farmer’s body to Keonjhar without notifying his family.
