A midnight elephant raid in Kendukhunta village under Jaleswar block of Odisha’s Balasore district claimed the life of a two-year-old boy.
The incident occurred when a tusker attempted to access stored paddy inside a house, causing a wall to collapse.
The victim, identified as Ram alias Narayan, was one of the twin sons of Uddhab Besra. Reports said the family was asleep when the elephant inserted its trunk through an opening in the house around 1 a.m. The wall gave way, and debris fell on the children, killing Ram instantly.
Forest officials visited the site early Tuesday to investigate. The same elephant reportedly damaged a roadside cabin near Luhapada Chhak later in the night, raising concerns about escalating human-elephant conflict in the region.
The busyness of the area and frequent raids have left locals fearful. Residents expressed grief and demanded stronger measures to prevent such tragedies. The incident has once again highlighted the growing tension between wildlife and human settlements in Balasore.
