Farmer injured in elephant attack in Mayurbhanj

Baripada: A farmer of Sarasola village in Mayurbhanj district was seriously injured after being attacked by an elephant here today morning.

The injured, identified as Narayan Tudu, was guarding his crops when a herd of elephants strayed into his field and one of the jumbos attacked Tudu. However, locals rescued Tudu admitted him to a nearby hospital in a critical condition.

According to reports, more than 60 elephants of the neighbouring Jharkhand entered through Rasagobindpur Forest range of Mayurbhanj district and wreaked havoc in the nearby villages by destroying hundreds of acres of agricultural fields and damaging vast stretch of standing crops.

Meanwhile, the forest department officials and local police have reached the spot to drive out the elephants to the forest.

Similarly, panic gripped several villages in Khuntuni Forest range under Athgarh Forest Division in Cuttack district after a herd of pachyderms today strayed into the region by breaking solar fence.

Besides, due to the jumbos’ movement on the Baula-Sarakoli road, vehicular movement on the route was affected.

Till last report came in, forest officials and police were trying to drive out the jumbo herd.