Traffic Movement Disrupted As Elephant Herd Blocks NH In Odisha’s Keonjhar

Keonjhar: A herd of elephants blocked the National Highway for more than two hours disrupting traffic movement in Odisha’s Keonjhar district on Sunday.

According to sources, the herd of 17 wild elephants including a calf strayed into Gurubeda under Champua forest range in the afternoon. They kept standing on the National Highway at Gurubeda square for around two hours.

As hundreds of vehicles on both sides of the road, which connects Jurudi-Bamebari with Joda town, were stranded, police along with Forest officials rushed to the spot.

The Forest officials managed to drive away the elephant herd to nearby forest with much difficulty and the traffic movement was restored to normalcy.

The sources said the elephant herd had been found moving in Baitarani-A reserve forest in Joda section of Champua range for the last few days. This is for the first time that they strayed into human habitation sparking panic among the locals, they added.