Elephant menace grips Narayanpur range in Gajapati district

Bhubaneswar: A heard of seven elephants have sneaked into Narayanpur range in Gajapati district causing worry among the locals.

As per reports, the heard has been moving in Burujhuli, Badakuturi, Sanakuturi, Jemadeipur, Wailpadu, Adangi, Lalusahi and Landasahi villages in the range owing to which the villagers are living in a constant state of fear.

The forest department is taking all possible steps to control the situation, said Prakash Chandra Bisoyi, forest range officer (FRO), Narayanpur. "We are trying our best to ensure safety of the villagers and the pachyderms too, said Bisoyi.

"The pachyderms have destructed our tomato and other crops. We have been spending sleepless nights," said one villager.

The forest officials are initiating every possible measure to drive out the elephants back to the forest at the earliest, the FRO added.