Bhubaneswar: People of Khandagiri area in Bhubaneswar are in a state of panic after a stray tusker from Chandaka Elephant Sanctuary on the outskirts of the city entered the Jayadev Vatika in the wee hours on Saturday.
Sources said the tusker had entered the OUAT Horticulture farm premises at Ghatikia in the early morning hours on February 15 after breaking the main gate of the farm.
Following information, the Forest staff had rushed to the farm to keep a close watch on the movement of the tusker. Later in the night, they tried to drive out the tusker out of the farm but failed. However, the Forest staff began their exercise in the night on the next day. However, after hour-long effort, the tusker ran out of the farm helter-skelter and entered into the Jayadev Vatika after breaking a portion of the boundary wall in the wee hours on Saturday.
As the Vatika is situated in the human habitation, the Forest officials have decided to drive away the tusker in the night.
Taking note of the presence of the tusker, the authorities have closed the Jayadev Vatika on Saturday till the tusker is driven out of its premises.
People commuting along the Jayadev Vatika have been asked to be cautious since there is every possibility that the tusker might come out at any moment, the sources added.
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