A 65-year-old woman died after being attacked by an elephant at Kusumpat village under the Karatpata section in Angul district of Odisha early on Thursday morning.

The deceased has been identified as Pramila Sahu. According to reports, she had gone behind her house early in the morning when the elephant suddenly attacked her. The incident reportedly took place at around 4:30 am.

Woman critically injured in attack

Locals said the elephant lifted Pramila with its trunk and repeatedly threw her to the ground, leaving her critically injured. Hearing her screams, family members and nearby villagers rushed to the spot and found her lying with severe injuries.

She was later rescued with the help of forest department officials and shifted to Angul District Headquarters Hospital for treatment.

However, despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Forest department issues caution

Forest department officials reached the hospital after the incident and started an investigation into the matter.

Officials said forest staff have been working round the clock to monitor elephant movement in vulnerable areas and regularly alert villagers through awareness drives and announcements. However, they said many people continue to move around alone during early morning or late night hours despite repeated warnings.

The department has urged residents of forest fringe villages to remain cautious and avoid venturing into isolated areas during elephant movement hours.

Also Read: Dramatic rescue in Odisha’s Angul as forest team saves elephant calf trapped in trench

Human-elephant conflict resurfaces

The incident has once again brought focus on the recurring human-elephant conflict in villages under the Karatpata section. Locals said elephant movement in the area has become frequent in recent months, creating fear among residents.