Angul: A herd of elephants has created a panic situation by damaging crops and houses in a village of the district.
According to the people of Mahidharpur Nuasahi under Bantala forest range, the herd of around 25 elephants have stationed in a forest near the village for the last 5-6 days. The pachyderms have been regularly invading their farm fields and destroying the vegetable crops of cauliflower, tomato, brinjal, banana and others, they alleged.
The herd has also damaged some houses in the village, leaving the villagers to spend sleepless nights in fear. The panicked villagers are also afraid of coming out at night and are remaining indoor.
After failing to drive away the wild elephants by burning hay stacks, they complained to the Forest department. But the Forest officials have not taken any step to ensure protection from the herd, they claimed.
