Kotpad 31st January 2025 An elephant has caused havoc in Handifuta village of Badalu, Dhenkanal. In the late hours of last night, the elephant entered the village, demolished the house of Pramod Nayak, and trampled it underfoot. Tragically, a seven-year-old girl sleeping in her mother’s lap inside the house lost her life. However, the child’s mother and grandmother narrowly escaped the rampaging elephant. They reportedly fled just in time to save their lives. The incident has sparked outrage in the village.
Angry villagers have blocked the road at Handifuta. As a result, traffic has come to a complete halt on the Hindol-Gudiakateni main road, which connects to National Highway 55. The Meramundali section of the Sadar forest division in Dhenkanal has been witnessing frequent elephant attacks in the Badalu region. Frustrated villagers have accused the forest department of neglecting their safety. They are demanding immediate compensation for the victim’s family, electrification of the area, and night patrolling by the forest department.