Karmi Lakhua (12) had a close shave on Monday night when an elephant herd attacked and damaged her thatched house at Baghidaad hamlet of Talsara village under Birmitrapur police limits in Sundargarh district.
As per reports, a herd of eight elephants reached the village and one among them, damaged the thatched house of one Thibu Lakhua and devoured four gunny bags of paddy. Karmi, sleeping in the adjoining room, managed to escape through a window. The herd then moved to a nearby area and partially damaged the mud house of one Upakar Majhi to feast on foodgrains and vegetables. The villagers claimed that in the last two months, elephants have repeatedly sneaked into the village and damaged at least eight houses besides injuring five persons.