Elephant herd wreaks havoc in Sundargarh; man killed, acres of paddy crop destroyed

Panic gripped several villages under the Bonai Forest Range in Sundargarh district as a herd of nine elephants continued to wreak havoc, destroying acres of standing paddy crop and threatening human safety. 

According to sources, the herd has been moving between the Sarsara Section and Dharinidharpali Section, leaving a trail of destruction across agricultural lands.

According to locals, five to six villages have been severely affected by the elephant raids. Farmers who were preparing for harvest now watch helplessly as their fields are trampled overnight. The sudden crop devastation has caused deep distress among rural families, many of whom depend solely on agriculture for survival.

The conflict has already turned tragic. Just a few days ago, in the Sarsara Section area, the herd reportedly killed one person and left a 12-year-old boy critically injured, sparking widespread anger and fear among villagers.

On Friday night, the elephants entered Jharabeda, Shivnathpur, Musaposh and Ghataposh villages under the Dharinidharpali Section, destroying large patches of paddy fields. Villagers spent the night outside their homes, beating drums and bursting firecrackers in desperate attempts to drive the herd away.

Meanwhile, the Forest Department officials have intensified operations to push the animals back into the deep forest. Personnel have been deployed overnight with vehicles and fire torches, but officials admit controlling the movement of a large herd remains a major challenge.

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Residents are now demanding immediate compensation for crop loss and long-term measures to prevent repeated elephant incursions, which have become an annual nightmare for the region.