Herd of 19 elephants creates panic in Athagarh; crops damaged across villages

A herd of nineteen wild elephants has been causing widespread trouble in Athagarh forest region of Cuttack district, disturbing local farmers and threatening crops. The elephants were spotted on roads and in farmlands on Tuesday, creating fear among residents.

Also Read: Elephants wreak havoc in Odisha’s Rayagada; farmers count heavy losses

With the paddy harvesting season underway, the pachyderms have entered areas such as Khuntuni and the Athagarh range in search of food. On Monday, nineteen young elephants had crossed the road near Dalakhai Thakurani temple under the Athagarh range and moved into the Sukashan forest in Cuttack district.

Forest Department teams have been trying to drive the jumbos back, with drones deployed to monitor the herd’s movements closely. Local authorities continue their efforts to ensure the safety of the villages and farmlands in the region.

Worth mentioning, earlier in another incident, panic had gripped several villages in the Muniguda range of Rayagada district as wild elephants continued to stray into human settlements, destroying standing crops and properties, sources said on October 29.

According to forest officials, an eight-member elephant herd had damaged paddy and other crops in areas under the Ambadola section’s Raghubari beat, including Pidel Padar, Umber Khaliaguda, Kinjilua, Nanibuti, and Tikarpada.

Another herd of five elephants had been creating havoc for a few days in Kesari beat areas such as Terimeri, Karkamarka, Odamaska, and Peramera. The animals were taking shelter in nearby jungles close to Punder, forest sources had said.

Continuous raids by the herds had left villagers terrified, and farmers devastated, as months of hard work and an entire season’s harvest had been lost. In Lelibadi village under Katak Hajaridadang panchayat, a group of three elephants had reportedly destroyed a poultry farm and banana plantations.