Balasore: Residents in the periphery of Tinikonia forest reserve at Nilagiri of Balasore district are in panic after a herd of wild elephants strayed into Kamarkhalia village last night.
According to sources, the herd comprising of three elephants went on a rampage and destroyed the house of one Banamali Singh. The pachyderms also caused massive damage to the agricultural produce kept in the house.
Panicked, the family members of Banamali were forced to vacate the house and ran for their lives. Somehow, the villagers managed to keep the marauding elephants at bay by making loud noises and bursting crackers.
The villagers alleged though elephant menace has been continuing unabated in the area, no steps have been taken by the forest department to safeguard life and property. The local villagers are demanding timely action on part of the forest officials to keep the herd away from human settlement.
In another incident, an elephant calf, who had fallen into a pit near Kalmi in Rengali division, was rescued by forest staff this morning. The forest staff rescued the calf with help of a JCB machine. The male baby elephant later rushed into forest.