Bhubaneswar, June 25: In a heart-wrenching incident, a ‘Gaja Sathi’—a member of the community elephant squad—was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Katada village under Jarapada police station limits in Odisha’s Angul district. The tragic event occurred around 3:30 AM on Tuesday.

According to police and forest officials, a herd of eight elephants was returning to the nearby forest when the incident unfolded. The elephant squad, deployed to guide and drive the herd away from human settlements, encountered the animals during their movement. During the operation, one of the elephants—reportedly a protective mother—mistook squad member Naik (40) as a threat to her calf and launched a sudden attack, fatally trampling him.

On being alerted, a team led by Forest Ranger Madhav Naik along with local police rushed to the spot. The body was recovered, and an investigation has been initiated to understand the exact circumstances leading to the mishap.

Authorities have expressed deep sorrow over the incident and are reviewing safety protocols for ‘Gaja Sathi’ members who work in high-risk zones to mitigate human-elephant conflict in forest-adjacent areas.

Powered by Froala Editor