Khurda: Residents of Tangi area in Khurda district are now having sleepless nights for the last couple of days as a herd of nearly 20 elephants is wreaking havoc in the region.
The elephant herd has reportedly destroyed standing paddy crops and houses in Golabai, Mota, Kalibati areas under Tangi block in the last 10 days.
The pachyderms usually halt in forests during daytime and are entering into paddy fields in night in search of food and thereby destroying paddy crops that are ready for harvest, said a local villager.
However, the forest department officials have remained a mute spectator as no step has been taken so far to drive away the pachyderms which have now sparked off resentment among the villagers.
“The farmers are already in distress as huge quantity of crops was damaged due to the unseasonal rains. Adding to the woes, now the elephants are damaging paddy crops as well as vegetables. The elephant herd is believed to have strayed from Chandaka area,” sources added.
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