Kendrapada: A 52-year-old woman was reportedly trampled to death by a tusker in Jajpur district on Wednesday. “Fula Pradhan of Kolha village under Dalijoda forest range was attacked by an adult male elephant on Wednesday when she along with other women was collecting firewood in the nearby forest. Some locals rushed her to the community health centre at Barachana, where the doctors declared her dead,” said forest range officer, Dalijodi, Sachitananda Subudhi.The forest department faced anger from the locals, who claimed that the department was not taking proper steps to prevent the human-elephant conflict. The pachyderms often stray from the nearby Bairi reserve forest into the villages and damage crops and some houses. They were roaming in the surrounding villages.“A team of forest staff has been deployed in the villages as a protective measure. We are trying to drive the elephant herds out by beating drums and lighting fires. The family members of the deceased will get Rs 10 lakh from the forest department as compensation money soon,” added the forest officer.Farmers alleged that the herd caused extensive damage to their paddy and vegetable crops, and it was happening on a regular basis. “Wild elephants that entered the villages in search of food also damaged the houses of some villagers. The farmers are worried over the wild elephant menace, which is on the rise in the region,” said Pravat Pradhan, a local.According to Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of Wildlife Society of Odisha, mining in the forest in Jajpur district and its nearby areas is the main reason behind the destruction of elephant corridors and vital habitat essential for long-ranging species like Indian elephants. They are responsible for drying up and siltation of natural streams, waterfalls and rivulets. The elephants are now in danger, and are killing people. It is unfortunate that despite persistent attempts to convince the authorities, the people have not got any relief from the govt in the past.
