Keonjhar, Jan 14: A man was critically injured after a wild elephant threw him in the air with its trunk in the district, said a forest official on Tuesday.

The incident took place at Kundeihata village under Telkoi block last night while a group of villagers was chasing away the elephant that had strayed into the village.

Injured Bijay Pradhan has been admitted in Keonjhar district headquarters hospital in a critical condition.

A herd of elephants has strayed into human habitats in the area creating panic among the villagers for last couple of days.