Balasore: The administration in Odisha’s Balasore declared holidays for several schools on Friday after a wild tusker strayed into human settlements in the Soro-Hati area, damaging property and creating panic among people.
Block Education Officer Narayan Das, acting on instructions from the District Education Officer, ordered the closure of 10 schools in Mahatipur, Nuasahi, Sundhira Gandibed and Anderei villages.
According to sources, the elephant was first spotted in Natapada and Bateswar villages under the Khaira block, where it uprooted trees and chased locals while foraging for food. A man, Surendra Dash, was also trampled to death by the wild elephant at Purbapada village under the same block. Emerging video footage has captured the tense moments as a wild elephant wandered into a human settlement, forcing terrified residents to flee for their lives.
“Our village is about 3 km from Bateswar. We were unaware that it moved towards our village. Surendra was standing near his house. The tusker dragged and threw him on the concrete floor and then crushed him under its feet. We immediately rushed him to Khaira hospital. Another person suffered a fracture in his hand and has been referred to Balasore,” said a villager, accusing the Forest Department of inaction on their complaints though the tusker had been roaming in the area for the past three days.
The incident has spread panic among the villagers, who have locked themselves indoors, he added.
According to Oupada Forest Ranger Harihar Majhi, two elephants had entered the area from neighbouring Keonjhar district in search of food. One returned to the forest on Tuesday, but the second continues to roam in the region. “The elephant will be kept inside a cordon during the day and we will safely drive it away into its natural habitat in the evening. I would also want to appeal to people not to irritate the animal or throw stones at it,” he added.
