Elderly man trampled to death by elephant in C'garh

A 65-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in a forest area near Sakholi village in Surguja district of Chhattisgarh, officials said today.

The incident took place yesterday and the victim was identified as Devlal, a resident of Bakila village, they said.

M D Lahre, sub divisional officer of Dhaurpur forest range, said the victim had gone to Masga village where his son-in-law resides.

"On Thursday morning, when he was on his way to Bakila from Masga village, an elephant appeared from nowhere in a forest area near Sakholi village and trampled him," he said.

Teams of forest officials and police personnel reached the site on being alerted about the incident.

The next kin of the deceased has been given an immediate relief of Rs 25,000. The remaining Rs 3.75 lakh will be given after the completion of formalities, Lahre said.