369 people killed in Odisha elephant attacks since 2015

As many as 369 persons were killed and 207 injured in wild elephant attacks in the last four years in Odisha, said a Minister on Tuesday.

Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukh informed the Assembly that these deaths occurred between January 2015 and June 2019.

The Minister was replying to a question by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislator Mukesh Kumar Pal. So on an average 92 people have been killed each year.

The Forest Department has erected stone walls and solar-powered fences in several sensitive places to deter the jumbos from coming to human habitations, Arukh said.

He also said that number of steps, including the development of habitations as well as digging of water bodies and plantation (as fodder) for safe habitation of these mammals in the state.

Besides, several squads have been engaged to track the movement of the wild elephants and keep them away from the human habitations.

The department has also brought a special vehicle 'Gaja', which is used in driving away the elephant herd from village areas thus saving human lives. IANS