Anandpur: Forest officials on Tuesday constituted 16 squads to chase away an elephant herd that has strayed into Keonjhar forest division, unleashing panic among inhabitants.
More than 160 wild elephants have been spotted in the area. The herd has destroyed standing crops on acres of agricultural fields, leading to huge resentment among locals.
“The elephants from Jharkhand have entered the forest division. These have kept the officials on their toes who are making every attempt to prevent them from entering human settlements and drive them away from the area,” a forest official informed.
Meanwhile, the villagers have kept torch lights and crackers ready to shoo away the animals at bay.
