Jumbos block traffic in Athagarh

Cuttack: A heard of wild elephants disrupted vehicular traffic on NH-55 near Balisuniamuha under Khuntuni range in the district after they tried to cross the road in the early hours here on Saturday.

Official sources said, a herd of nearly 18 elephants instead of crossing the road unexpectedly stood on the national highway for long hours. Earlier, the herd of pachyderms had strayed into Gurudijhatia College premises, sources added.

Though the forest officials were successful in driving the animals away from the college campus, the elephants stopped on the NH-55 causing a flutter among the commuters.

Reports reaching here said, hundreds of vehicles and commuters are still stranded on the road even though efforts are on by the forest officials to drive back the herd into the forest.