Dehradun: A teenage Delhi girl was chased and trampled to death by a wild elephant in Rajaji National Park area after her family decided to take an ancient and heavily forested route to reach Neelkanth temple in Pauri district.
The incident occurred yesterday when the family decided to go on foot to the Shiva temple from Swargashram through a dense forest route which falls in the National Park area known for its substantial population of elephants, Deputy Ranger Forest Ali Hasan said.
As the family set out for the temple, 14-year-old Momita and her cousin went ahead of the group but were taken aback as they saw an elephant coming from the opposite direction.
The girls panicked and ran to rejoin the elders but Momita slipped and was trampled by the pachyderm which was chasing them.
Momita, daughter of Ashish Roy Chaudhry who lives in Delhi died on the spot, Hasan said adding he had to fire several rounds in the air to scare away the elephant.
He also said that visitors should not take this ancient and heavily forested route to reach Neelkanth.
They should prefer to take the motor road through Garurchatti, Goolarchatti and Talai to reach the temple.
