Man Killed in Elephant Attack in Khordha; Villagers Block Road Demanding Action

Bhubaneswar/Khordha: Tension gripped parts of Khordha district on Saturday after a 35-year-old man was trampled to death by a wild tusker near Khadipadar village under Jankia police station limits late Friday night. The incident triggered protests by angry locals, who blocked the New Jagannath Road demanding compensation and stronger measures to curb human-elephant conflict.

The deceased has been identified as Shankar Routray alias Habula, an electrician and resident of Khadipadar village.

According to local sources, Shankar was returning home on his bicycle after visiting a nearby market when a tusker suddenly appeared on the road and attacked him. He sustained fatal injuries in the assault. Villagers said he died on the spot, and his body was later found in a mutilated condition. Following the incident, residents rushed to the area, prompting the elephant to retreat into the nearby forest.

On Saturday morning, irate villagers staged a road blockade on the New Jagannath Road, burning tyres and halting vehicular movement. Protesters demanded adequate compensation for the bereaved family and immediate preventive steps to address the recurring incidents of man-animal conflict in the region.

The blockade led to severe traffic congestion, with hundreds of vehicles stranded on both sides of the road for several hours.

Police and Forest Department officials reached the spot and initiated discussions with the agitating villagers in an effort to restore normalcy and ensure further action in the matter.