Farmer tossed to death by wild elephant in Odisha

Ganjam: Panic gripped residents of Digapahandi area in Ganjam district after a farmer was tossed to death by a wild tusker in the locality last night.

The incident took place in a paddy yard of one Suresh Pashupal alongside the Digapahandi-Nimapalli canal road. The deceased identified as Aalu Lachhei along with another K Arakhit Patra was resting in the yard to guard the harvested paddy crops. Apparently, the duo woke up to some strange noise at around 3 am. Assuming that a bull might have broken into the yard to feed on the crops, the duo went out with torchlight and cane sticks to drive away from the animal.

However, they were taken aback when they found a giant elephant instead of a bull on the spot.  Before both could escape, the tusker lifted Lachhei with its trunk and tossed him to the ground. However, Patra managed to escape from the spot and informed Lachhei’s family about the incident.  Locals immediately rushed to the spot and admitted Lachhei to the community health centre (CHC), where doctors declared him dead.

On being informed, police reached the spot and sent the body to Berhampur city hospital for post-mortem.

It is pertinent to mention that the Ratna forest of Digapahandi was home to eight elephants till recently when a herd of 12 more elephants joined them triggering panic among the locals.