Koida, Jul 8: A tragic incident of human-elephant conflict claimed the life of an elderly man in the Koida area of Odisha's Sundargarh district after a wild elephant allegedly dragged him out of his house and trampled him to death.

According to reports, the victim was asleep inside his home when the rogue elephant entered the premises during the night. The animal pulled the elderly man out of the house before attacking him. He sustained fatal injuries and died on the spot.

The incident sparked outrage among local residents, who staged a road blockade demanding immediate compensation for the bereaved family and long-term measures to tackle the recurring elephant menace in the region.

Villagers alleged that frequent elephant incursions have become a serious threat to lives and property, disrupting normal life in the area. They urged the authorities to implement effective strategies to prevent such tragedies and ensure the safety of people living in elephant-prone villages.

The incident has once again brought the growing human-elephant conflict in Sundargarh district into sharp focus, with residents expressing concern over the lack of a permanent solution to repeated elephant attacks.

Further details are awaited as protests by local residents continue.