A rogue elephant trampled a 65-year-old woman to death in Kusumpat village under Nandapur Panchayat in Angul district early Thursday morning.
The victim, identified as Pramila Sahu, had gone to a nearby mango orchard around 4:30 am to collect mangoes when the wild elephant attacked her.
The animal crushed her, leaving severe injuries and a fractured leg. Locals immediately alerted forest officials, who rushed to the spot. The forest staff rescued the injured woman and shifted her to Angul District Headquarters Hospital. Despite efforts by doctors, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
The tragic incident has sparked concern among villagers, who often face threats from elephants straying into human settlements in search of food. Residents expressed fear over repeated elephant incursions in the Karatpata section of Angul Forest Division.
Forest officials assured that patrols will be intensified in vulnerable areas to prevent further attacks. They urged villagers to remain cautious and avoid venturing into forested zones during early morning hours. Wildlife experts stressed that human-elephant conflict continues to rise in Odisha, with Angul district recording frequent encounters.
