Watch: 2 Elephants Wander On NH 16 In Khordha, Traffic Halted

Khordha: Panic gripped commuters, who were travelling on National Highway 16 near Daleipur in the district, as two elephants were found wandering on the road this morning. People and motorists were stranded for nearly an hour on the route.

On being informed, forest officials rushed to the spot and advised people not to tease the wild animals and keep a safe distance from them.

According to reports, the wild animals gradually disappeared into Jaripada forest following which the traffic movement returned to normalcy. No one has been hurt and no damage has been done during the raid by the pachyderms.

“The rampant rise in the population, industrialisation and urbanisation has taken over the open spaces. Forests have been cut down to build bridges and expand the city. We have been encroaching upon the natural abode of animals and leaving hardly anything for them to flourish. That is why we often see wild animals and jumbos breaking into the city that was once their home,” said an environmentalist.

Earlier in October last year, a herd of wild elephants had left the people of Athagarh area in a state of panic and adversely affected the road communication by frequently obstructing National Highways and Railway tracks.

On October 28, GurudijhatiaMatsyapur Railway track and National Highway near Bali had been brought to a jumbo halt as a herd of pachyderms were found crossing the road dangerously.

https://youtu.be/HRYxapibyYM

(Edited by Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)