Rourkela: A member of the forest protection squad was critically injured after being attacked by a wild tusker in Sundargarh‘s Panposh forest range Monday morning.
The victim, Dipak Purty (34), was part of an eight-member team tracking a herd of 17 elephants near Balani Nuagaon village in Dalakudar section when the incident took place around 10 am.
According to witnesses, a tusker from the herd suddenly charged at Purty and trampled him while other team members fled to safety. The injured forest guard was initially rushed to Rourkela Government Hospital.
Following deteriorating health conditions, Purty was transferred to Ispat General Hospital (IGH) before being referred to a super-specialty hospital in Bhubaneswar. He was transported by ambulance Monday afternoon, accompanied by two squad members.
Panposh range officer Gyanendra Lima, who visited IGH, told reporters, “One of our forest protection squad members is in critical condition following the tusker attack. As per medical advice, we have shifted him to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar for advanced treatment.”