BARIPADA/BERHAMPUR:A Herd of 50 elephants that strayed into Mayurbhanj from Dalma forest in Jharkhand on Tuesday night, has been wreaking havoc in areas located close to Chitrada under Morada block of the district. The elephants were last seen in a forest near Chitrada.
The animals have destroyed houses and agricultural fields in Phulajhari, Malihata, Chikitamatia, Pattakundia, Ghaghara and Andhari. Two persons have also been injured by the elephants. Efforts by forest staff to send them back to Jharkhand have not yielded any result so far.
Similarly in Gajapati district, a herd of seven elephants has spread panic among locals under Gosani block. The animals had strayed from Lakhari forest into an area near Bailanda hill at Kharasandha village in Gosani three days back. They have been seen moving near Gangabada, Gandahati, Adasing, Badagaon and Lanjipadar villages.
Forest ranger Prabhakar Nayak said the herd has so far damaged fruit bearing trees in the villages and a strict vigil is being maintained on movement of the elephants.