Tusker kills two siblings in Odisha; injures three more of family

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Baripada, Aug 1:

A tusker killed a 7-year-old boy and his sister while injuring their mother and two other sisters in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, Forest department officials said today.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Baripada, Sanjay Swain said the tragic incident took place in Chandanpur village under Rasagovindapur range of Baripada forest division when a jumbo attacked the thatched house of Rama Murmu late last night killing his son Phago (7) and daughter Rukmani (12).

Swain said while Rama had managed to escape unhurt, Rama’s wife and two other daughters, aged about 8 months and 10 years, were injured in the attack and are undergoing treatment at the district headquarters hospital here.

“The tusker is believed to have strayed from Dalma elephant sanctuary in neighbouring Jharkhand into Nilagiri forest under Balasore district and attacked Murmu’s hut while returning to Dalma,” Swain said.

The tusker has been spotted at Suliapada reserve forest bordering  Mayurbhanj and West Bengal after the incident, he added.