Preparing torch to ward off elephants, woman dies of burns (Keonjhar) Naresh Chandra Pattanayak, Times of India January 6, 2025 A 36-year-old woman died from severe burns while preparing a torch to drive away elephants in Keonjhar district's Guludipasi village Saturday night. Jhuli Barik, wife of Sankhali Barik, of Jhatipara Sahi, was making a fire torch when her sari caught fire after she allegedly poured kerosene into it. Local sources said a tusker had strayed from its herd and damaged vegetables in Sankhali's kitchen garden late Friday night. On Saturday, Jhuli and other villagers were keeping watch in the garden to prevent another elephant intrusion. The accident occurred around 11 pm when Jhuli was preparing the torch. She suffered 100% burns and was immediately rushed to Patna community health centre. Due to her critical condition, she was referred to Keonjhar district headquarters hospital and then to SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack. However, she was declared dead at Anandpur sub-divisional hospital en route to Cuttack. Ghasipura police recovered the body on Sunday and conducted a post-mortem before handing it over to her family members. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/preparing-torch-to-ward-off-elephants-woman-dies-of-burns/articleshow/116996999.cms