An elephant killed two children in Kantapali village of Sundargarh district’s Tamara Range. The victims were a 12-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl.
The incident occurred last night when the elephant broke into a house while the family was asleep. Startled by the destruction, the family rushed out of the house. While fleeing, the elephant dragged the boy and fatally mauled him. The 3-year-old girl, left behind inside the house, was also killed by the elephant.
Police and forest department officials arrived at the scene after receiving the report and began their investigation.
In another incident on Friday night (December 13), an elephant attacked a forest department para staff in the Rusi Math forest of Sapalta Bit in Tamda Range, Sundargarh district. The elephant broke the staff member’s leg and rib cage during the attack. While the other personnel fled during an elephant trekking operation, the elephant targeted and injured the para staff. He fell near a large rock, sustaining head injuries as well.
The forest team found him after an 8-hour search and rescued him yesterday morning. He is currently receiving treatment in Rourkela.