Elephant herd stalls traffic on NH-20 in Odisha’s Keonjhar; villagers on edge

A herd of 27 elephants from the Patala forest under the Champua range in Keonjhar district created panic after straying onto National Highway 20 near Rajia and blocking vehicular movement for some time on Monday. 

The incident caused traffic disruption and left locals concerned as the same herd also reportedly damaged a house near Shashanka village.

Elephants Stall Traffic on the Highway

The herd, which had come out of the Patala forest, was seen standing on NH-20, bringing the road to a complete halt for a period. 

Vehicles remained stranded as the elephants occupied the highway before eventually dispersing. The sudden presence of such a large number of elephants on a national highway caught commuters off guard.

House Damaged, Villagers Worried

In a separate incident, the elephants broke a house near Shashanka village, adding to the anxiety of the residents. The locals have expressed growing concern over the repeated movement of elephants in human settlements. 

The presence of the 27 elephants near inhabited areas has raised fears of further property damage and risk to life.

Forest Staff on Alert, Cite Liquor Smell

Forest department staff are closely monitoring the movement of the herd. Officials said the elephants have been in the area for several days. Despite awareness efforts, villagers continue to store local liquor such as mahuli and handia at home, which attracts elephants due to the appealing strong smell.

Elephant Presence in Keonjhar Remains High

As per the forest department, there are currently around 150 to 160 elephants in the Keonjhar forest division. Their growing presence near villages has made human-elephant conflict a persistent issue in the region.