Panic spread across Rourkela city early Tuesday morning after a 78-year-old woman was killed in an elephant attack in Sundargarh district of Odisha.
The incident occurred at around 3 am in Koel Nagar C-block.
The victim, identified as Purnima Dastia, had stepped out of her home to pluck flowers for her morning rituals when she encountered the elephant. The animal lifted her with its trunk, tossed her, and flung her to the ground, causing her death on the spot.
Reports suggest that a herd of elephants had strayed into Barakani village in Bondamunda but were driven away by residents. One elephant got separated and returned from Sona Parbat. Locals spotted the lone jumbo near Kendriya Vidyalaya and immediately alerted the Forest Department.
The elephant moved through Diesel Colony, crossed the rail yard at Bangomunda, and eventually entered Koel Nagar C-block. Forest personnel attempted to guide it away from human settlements, but the animal continued deeper into the city.
As the elephant entered the residential area, Dastia stepped outside her house and tragically confronted the animal. The attack shocked residents, who witnessed the incident unfold in their neighbourhood.
Jhirpani police reached the spot soon after and seized the body for postmortem. Authorities confirmed that the body would be handed over to the family after the autopsy.
