Keonjhar: A tusker trampled a minor girl to death at Hariharpur village under Patna Forest Range in Odisha's Keonjhar district, today.

The deceased, identified as Sasmita Mahanta (10), was studying inside her house this evening around 8 pm when the elephant demolished the house and crushed her head, which led to her death on the spot.

On being informed, Forest officials reached the village and started investigation. Till last reports came in, the pachyderm was present near the locality leaving the residents of the area panic-stricken.

The locals have expressed resentment alleging that Forest Department officials didn't take any adequate step to ward off the tusker even as the animal has been damaging houses and crops in the area in the last few days.