A tusker trampled a woman to death near Upperdiha, 45 km from here, on Saturday. She was identified as Nasiri Munda, 60.
The incident took place around 11am while she was collecting firewood in a nearby forest.
Munda was rescued by forest officials and admitted to Keonjhar district headquarters hospital, where she succumbed to injuries, said DFO (Keonjhar) Rohit Kumar Lenka. Compensation would be paid to the bereaved family in accordance with the government policy, he added.
This is second such incident reported in the district this year. Five persons were killed in elephant attacks in 2015, official sources said.
The ongoing construction work on NH-215 at night has led to man-animal conflict in the area. A herd of 12 elephants has been found roaming in Ghatagaon forest range. The killer tusker was among the three, who could not cross the road due to the construction work, the sources said.
“We have asked the NHAI authorities not to undertake road work at night as the sound and lights are affecting movement of elephants in the area,” the DFO said.
The forest department has identified three places in Atei reserve forest used by the elephants to cross Panikoili-Rajamunda road, passing through Ghatagaon forest range. It has asked the NHAI to allow safe passage to these animals by constructing three underpasses, the sources added.
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