Two persons were critically hurt after being attacked by a rhinoceros at Sonama VDC in Mahottari district on Monday morning.

The District Police Office, Mahottari, said that Nirmala Devi Thakur, 37, and her 10-year-old niece Ramtola were hurt in the attack of the rogue rhino.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Binod Silwal said that the rhinoceros came from a forest in Raghunathpur VDC-7 and attacked the two at around 7:00 am while defecating.

The victims were left with injuries to their heads, faces and different parts of the bodies, Silwal said. Both the injured have been rushed to the Janakpur Zonal Hospital for further treatment after the primary treatment at a local clinic.

Eyewitnesses said that the rhino ran away to the forest after the incident.