Keonjhar: A 53-year-old tribal woman succumbed to her injuries on Saturday following an elephant attack in Keonjhar district on Friday. The deceased, identified as Sukuri Juanga from Gayalamunda village, was attacked while grazing goats in the Barabanka reserve forest.
Forest department officials said the incident occurred in the afternoon when a wild elephant suddenly emerged from the forest and charged at Juanga. Upon receiving information, Ghatagaon range forest officials rushed to the scene and found Juanga severely injured.
The victim was initially taken to Ghatagaon community health centre and later shifted to the Keonjhar district headquarters hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead on Saturday.
“We are maintaining strict surveillance on elephant movement in the area and have issued alerts to locals,” said H D Dhanraj, divisional forest officer, Keonjhar. He said appropriate compensation would be provided to the victim’s family following an investigation.