Jumbo rampage in Odisha villages

Balasore/Sonepur/Sundergarh: Herd of elephants has wreaked havoc after sneaking into human habitation in search of food, damaging several houses and standing and harvesting crops at different places of Odisha on Wednesday night.

Three elephants went rampage at several villages in Kuldiha sanctuary area in Nilagiri of Balasore district. The pachyderms destroyed huge quantities of paddy crops in the filed as well as stocked crops in the yard. Panic-stricken villagers tried hard to drive the animals away into the forest.

The jumbos first have sneaked into Baliora village and later moved to Juria Patana and other neighbouring areas inflicting damages to the paddy, maize and vegetable crops, the villagers said.

"We are in a state of panic as the elephants entered the village during night and crushed the crops. We requested the forest officials to help us protecting lives and properties," said Kanduri Singh a local.

Forest officials have camped in the area and tried to chase them away with the help of villagers.

Similarly, villagers in Binika block in Sonepur are also facing the menace as a herd of 40 elephants is running amok in the area for 26 days. They destroyed paddy crops in acres of farm land at Seledi village after crossing Mahanadi river from Ulunda in the district.

[caption id="attachment_499720" align="alignleft" width="300"] In Pic: Banana plantation damaged by wild elephants in Sonepur[/caption]

Panic struck the local residents soon after sun set as the jumbos are unleashing terror.

"They have camped in a nearby forest and sneaked into human settlement in the night. We feel unsafe due to such continuous menace of the wild elephants," said a villager.

"We spend sleepless night almost every day to protect our lives and properties from the clutches of the animals," he added.

Likewise, Ujjalpur forest range area in Sundergarh district is also facing similar menace due to the movement of elephants near human habitation.

A tusker reportedly demolished six thatched houses and destroyed paddy and vegetable crops in Teldega, Tinikibandh villages near Ujjalpur in the district.

Locals have demanded adequate compensation for the families who faced worst menace of the elephant.