A 59-year-old tribal man was trampled to death by a Makna elephant under Chandwa police station limits of Latehar district on Thursday. Chandwa forest range officer N K Mahato said the deceased Tibru Ganjhu was a farm worker who lived in Maalhun village.
“Tibru was taking a late-night stroll some 100 feet away from his house when the elephant came and crushed him to death. The incident took place around 10:30 pm,” he said.
The elephant then moved to the nearby railway tracks between Mahua Milaan and Nindra railway stations, where it stood for some time. Mahato said railway officials at the nearby stations were alerted and movement of trains along the up and down lines were halted for nearly 30 minutes till the elephant crossed the tracks.
A sub-adult elephant was hit by a goods train on the tracks last month and died of injuries later, officials said.
Ranjit Kumar, the station superintendent of Tori railway station, said the engine crew of all trains were issued caution notices to maintain a speed of 30 kilometres an hour and keep an eye out for the jumbo between Mahua Milaan and Nindra railway stations.
Ganjhu’s family members were provided with an immediate ex-gratia relief of Rs 40,000 while his body was sent to Latehar sadar hospital for postmortem examination.
