Balasore/Cuttack: A herd of 32 elephants, including two calves, has been spotted near Gopalpur of Nilagiri in Balasore district.
Panic gripped the locals of Bhaurianbad panchayat in Nilagiri with the rampaging jumbos destroying standing crop in the area since Monday.
According to sources, the herd had strayed into Odisha from Dalma forest in Jharkhand and reached the forest areas near Gopalpur.
The Forest Department has alerted the locals and been keeping a close watch on its movement.
“The elephants are damaging our crop. We are sacred to go out or let our livestock to graze in the open,” said Nrusingha Biswal, a villager.
Nilagiri Ranger Sukumar Das confirmed presence of the elephant herd near human settlements. “Night patrolling is being conducted. The elephants are now in Gopalpur forest. The villagers have been alerted and they are cooperating with us. Efforts are on drive them away from human habitations,” he said.
People of Nuagaan village under Banipada panchayat in Choudwar in Cuttack district are also spending sleepless nights with elephants destroying properties for the last five days.
A herd of 14 elephants is also destroying crop, especially in Dalijoda range, Chashapada, Bandala, Banipada, Gayalapada and Chudakhia.
“The state government should compensate us for the loss of crops. If the district administration fails to fulfil our demands, we will stage a dharna in future,” said a villager.
Here too, the Forest Department is making efforts to shoo away the herd into the forest.
