Barang: A wild tusker from Chandaka forests Tuesday caused large-scale destruction in Deras area.
The elephant damaged the boundary wall of a Central government agency office near Deras in the wee hours of Tuesday. It also damaged several coconut and mango trees, and banana plants at a horticulture farm in the locality. The elephant tried to attack a night watchman of the farm. Later, the jumbo entered the backyard of former sarpanch Umakanta Behera near Haridam and ate a few sacks of paddy.
The tusker entered Ratanpur forests near Angarapada panchayat after damaging a motorcycle at Behera’s residence. The Forest department, meanwhile, deployed a few of its employees to keep close watch on the tusker.