Elephant Herd Wreaks Havoc In Odisha’s Sonepur, Villagers Seek Swift Action

Sonepur: A herd of 60 elephants continues to wreak havoc in Binika block of Odisha’s Sonepur district where the villagers are spending sleepless nights for the last 15 days.

As to local sources, villagers in Bankighiradi, Sarangpali, Kukudajhuli, Balaranga, Sarguna and Manigaon villages are keeping a vigil as the marauding elephants have destroyed their crops on several acres of land.

The villagers are panic stricken as the elephants have been entering human habitations after the sunset. Besides damaging houses the pachyderms are also devouring rice stored inside.

The villagers have appealed the forest officials to take swift action and drive away the herd.

It may be mentioned here that due to delay ion action the villagers are sleeping outside their homes to keep a watch on the herd even as the night temperature in the district hovers around 15 degree Celsius.