A tragic elephant attack claimed the life of Lab Bhoi, 38, in Kumer village under Jujumura block, Sambalpur, early Wednesday morning.
Around 5:30 a.m., Bhoi went to a pond for sanitation when a wild elephant attacked him. The animal dragged him with its trunk and crushed him, causing instant death at the spot. Forest officials and police reached the scene soon after receiving the report.
The incident triggered strong protests from villagers, who demanded immediate safety measures to prevent further elephant attacks. They insisted on installing solar fencing and solar lights around the village to deter elephants from entering residential areas. Villagers declared they would not allow the removal of the body until authorities provided written assurance of these measures.
The demand for written assurance was directed at the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), whom villagers urged to visit the site and commit to safety arrangements. The community emphasised that repeated elephant attacks have endangered lives and property, and they want concrete steps to ensure
