Two elderly women killed by elephant in Chhattisgarh
"Iliriya (75) and Martina Minj (80), residents of Pandripani village, were trampled to death by an elephant in the forests under Bagicha police station limits of the district," Division Forest Officer (Jashpur division) C S Tiwari told PTI over phone
The incident took place when when both went to jungle for gathering leaves, he said, adding, compensation has been provided to the kin of the victims.
Villagers have been advised not to venture inside the forest, the DFO added.
The thick forested northern region, comprising Korba, Surguja, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, is notorious for human-elephant conflict incidents.
The region in the past years has witnessed several killings of tribals and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue pachyderms.
The Forest Department has notified 11,4334.28 hectare area, comprising Tamor Pingla and Samersot sanctuary in Surguja and Badalkhol in Jashpur, for development as an elephant reserve.