Two Killed in Wild Tusker Attacks in Deogarh’s Riamal Area

Riamal: Two persons, including a 70-year-old man, were killed in separate wild tusker attacks in the Riamal area of Deogarh district on Thursday morning.

The incidents took place in Juradanga village under the Riamal Forest Section. The deceased were identified as Kunja Dehuri (70) and Ranjita Behera (35), wife of Dillip Behera.

Ranjita, a resident under the Riamal Forest Range of the Deogarh Forest Division, was attacked around 6:30 am while she was out plucking flowers. Locals rescued her and she was rushed to the Chhendipada Health Centre, before being shifted to the Angul District Headquarters Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

Shortly after, the same tusker confronted Kunja Dehuri, who belonged to a village under the Chhendipada Forest Range in the neighbouring Angul district. He was reportedly heading out to attend nature’s call when the elephant attacked him, killing him on the spot.

The twin tragedies have triggered tension in the locality, with forest officials initiating inquiries into the incidents.