Kendrapada: A 76-year-old man was trampled to death by a tusker in Jajpur district on Friday morning. The victim, Jagannath Rout of Bandhapai village under Dalijoda forest range, was attacked when he was going to his field. Villagers rushed him to the community health centre at Barachana, where the doctors declared him dead, said forest range officer, Dalijodi, Sachidananda Subudhi.Elephants often stray from the nearby reserve forest into the villages and damage crops and some houses. Forest personnel have been deployed in the villages as a protective measure. “We are trying to drive the elephants out by beating drums and lighting fires. The family members of the deceased will get Rs 10 lakh from the forest department as compensation money soon,” added the forest officer.Farmers alleged that the herd had also caused extensive damage to their paddy and vegetable crops. “We are worried about the wild elephant menace that is on rise in the region,” said Sanjay Rout, a local.