Rogue Elephant Claims Three Lives in Dhenkanal; Villagers Demand Safety Measures

Dhenkanal: Panic gripped Bagha Dharia village in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district on Thursday morning after a rogue elephant went on a rampage, killing three villagers in separate attacks under Hindol police limits.

The victims have been identified as Jhulan Dehuri (55), Karunakara Dehuri (60), and Shashi Sahu. Eyewitnesses said the attack began when Jhulan was out collecting flowers and was suddenly mauled by the wild elephant. Hearing her cries, Karunakara rushed to help but also fell victim to the animal’s fury. Both died on the spot.

Later in the day, the same elephant attacked Shashi Sahu. Though he was immediately taken to Angul District Headquarters Hospital in critical condition, doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The back-to-back deaths have enraged villagers, who staged a road blockade on the Puruna Cuttack–Sambalpur route. Protesters demanded immediate compensation for the bereaved families and the construction of a solar-powered fence to prevent elephant intrusions in the future.

Authorities rushed to the site to handle the tense situation. Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Satya Kumar Nanda, IIC Charulata Behera, and Forest Ranger Goutam Pradhan visited the village and interacted with residents to calm tensions and assure necessary action.

Efforts are underway to track the rogue elephant and prevent further incidents, while the administration is expected to announce relief and long-term mitigation measures soon.