Dhenkanal, February 10 Three women were killed and three others were injured in an attack by four wild elephants in a forest in Dhenkanal district, Odisha, on Tuesday, a senior official said.
The incident occurred near the Lochapali village in the Patpuri forest, within the Sadar range, he added.
The six women had gone to the dense forest to collect firewood when they encountered the wild elephants.
"The elephants suddenly appeared and attacked without any prior warning," one of the survivors stated.
A forest patrol team immediately rescued the women, but three of them died.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Sumit Kumar Kar told PTI that the deceased were identified as Indu Pradhan (60), Tuni Behera (50), and Kuntala Pradhan (40).
The families of the victims will receive compensation as per government regulations, he said.
Rama Dehuri, Rasmita Pradhan, and Jhili Pradhan are being treated at the district headquarters hospital, and their condition is reported to be stable, he added.