Angul, Dec 4: An elderly farmer was trampled to death and a woman critically injured in separate elephant attacks early this morning near the Angul–Deogarh district border. The incidents occurred in Juradanga village, located between the Kundheigola Forest Section and Budhapal Police Beat.

The deceased has been identified as Kunja Dehuri of Juradanga. According to reports, he had gone to a nearby pond for morning ablutions when a herd of rogue tusker elephants charged at him, killing him on the spot.

In another incident, Rajani Behera of the Chhendipada area was attacked while she was out collecting flowers. Local residents rescued her in critical condition and rushed her first to the Chhendipada Health Centre and later to the Angul District Headquarters Hospital.

Jurisdictional confusion arose after forest officials from both Reamal (Deogarh district) and Chhendipada (Angul district) reached the site, as the village lies on the boundary of the two districts.

The back-to-back attacks have triggered tension and fear among residents of the affected region.

In a similar and tragic incident on Wednesday, a young man was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Gahanda village under Choudwar police limits in Cuttack district.

The deceased, identified as Maheswar Dehury, was a resident of Gahanda village. Reports indicate that he had gone to the village pond early in the morning when he was suddenly attacked from behind by the elephant, sustaining grievous injuries.

Hearing his cries, locals rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. His body was later sent to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for post-mortem examination. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident.

This recent tragedy further underscores the escalating conflict between humans and wild elephants across the state.