Jumbos Stray Into Odisha’s Sonepur Village, Destroy Paddy Fields

Sonepur: Like an annual ritual, elephants have entered the paddy fields in Subarnapur district when the crops are ready for harvest.

According to sources, tuskers have strayed into Hikudi village in Ulunda Forest range of Subarnapur district on Wednesday morning and destroyed several paddy fields. The pachyderm, however, could not go back to their forests after Sunrise. There are at least four huge jumbos and two calfs in the herd.

Forest personnel, on receipt of information from frightened villagers, reached Hukudi village. “We will evolve ways to protect the crops and ensure that the jumbos do not harm villagers,” sais Forest Officer Jagabandhu Barik.