Elephants movement disrupts Sunday picnic at Bhubaneswar’s Shikharchandi hill

Sunday turned bleak for visitors at Bhubaneswar’s Shikharchandi shrine as the hilltop temple remained closed for tourists as two tusker elephants continue to roam in the area. The decision was taken in the interest of public safety after the elephants were spotted moving on the Shikharchandi hill.

Forest officials said the two tuskers have been on the hill since Saturday and have not come down to drink water, raising apprehension that they may descend at any time in search of water. Considering the potential risk to visitors, entry to the shrine has been temporarily restricted until the elephants move away from the area.

A similar situation was reported last year as well, when two tusker elephants stayed atop the Shikharchandi hill for nearly nine days during the same period, forcing authorities to impose restrictions.

The closure caused inconvenience to many devotees and tourists, especially as it was Sunday. Large numbers of visitors reached the shrine but were forced to return after learning about the restriction.

The forester of the region said, “Public movement has been stopped in the area due to the presence of two tuskers on the Shikharchandi hilltop. Efforts are underway to drive the tuskers back towards the sanctuary. Their movement is being closely monitored using drones. As the elephants have not been able to access water, forest teams are preparing to guide them away from the spot at the earliest.”

Patiagarh temple president also urged forest officials to drive the tuskers away. He said, ‘The two tuskers have been staying on the hilltop for the past six days. Since Shikharchandi is a major tourist and religious spot, we requested the forest department to relocate the elephants. The area usually witnesses heavy footfall on Sundays, but due to the presence of the tuskers, all activities have come to a halt. We hope the situation is resolved soon so that tourism and temple activities can resume.’

Meanwhile, officials from the Chandaka forest division, along with Infocity police, have intensified patrolling in and around the hill area to monitor elephant movement and ensure the safety of locals and visitors.