A wild elephant killed a man in Angul district early Thursday, marking the second fatal elephant attack in the region within two days. The incident took place at Guranga village under the Angul forest range, raising renewed concerns over rising human–elephant conflict in the area.
According to forest department sources, the victim was attacked during the early morning hours when dense fog severely reduced visibility. The man was reportedly moving around the area when the tusker suddenly charged and trampled him. The low visibility is believed to have contributed to the fatal encounter.
Forest officials reached the spot soon after receiving information and initiated necessary procedures. The victim’s identity was later confirmed, and the body was recovered from the site for post-mortem examination. Officials said the man was believed to be suffering from mental health issues and had been wandering in the locality at the time of the incident.
The incident comes barely a day after another fatal elephant attack in the same forest division. On Wednesday, a woman was killed in an elephant attack at Sunabhui Sahi under the Bantala range while she was collecting water from a nearby tube well.
The repeated incidents have heightened fear among local residents, who say elephant movement in human settlements has increased in recent weeks. Villagers have raised concerns about inadequate preventive measures and delayed response from authorities.
Following the latest fatality, tension gripped the region as angry residents staged protests, blocking roads at Bantala Chhak and disrupting traffic on the Angul–Tikarpada road and the old Cuttack–Sambalpur highway. Protesters demanded immediate compensation for the victim’s family and stronger steps to prevent future encounters.
Forest officials assured locals that monitoring in elephant corridors would be intensified and that additional measures were being planned to mitigate human–wildlife conflict.
