There seems to be no solution in sight for the man-animal conflict in Sundargarh district.
11 DEATHS IN 10 WEEKS
Just a week back, a mud house was attacked at Khairbandh village of Kuanrmunda range and an elderly woman was brutally killed by an elephant. In a span of 10 weeks from September 4 to November 17, the Rourkela, Sundargarh and Bonai divisions reported five, four and two human casualties respectively. So far this year, the Rourkela division has witnessed the highest of eight human deaths, while Sundargarh and Bonai are trailing closely with loss of seven and six lives respectively
RISING NUMBER OF INCIDENTS
The ACF said till two days ago forests of the Kuanrmunda range had 54 elephants in four herds and Bisra and Panposh ranges were having 18 and eight pachyderms respectively
Sources said in view of the ongoing harvesting season, the incidents of elephant depredations have increased as standing crops and mud-houses at elephant-prone areas of the district are under attack
LAST YEAR
In 2014-15,Sundargarh district had reported 16 human casualties due to elephant attacks and compensation to the tune of Rs 1.55 crore sanctioned towards loss of crops, properties and human lives.