Champua: A herd of 16 elephants, which strayed into Champua forest range in Keonjhar district from Mayurbhanj two days ago, is on a rampage.
The pachyderms reportedly damaged three houses in the area Saturday night. The herd had triggered panic among the local people in Banika and other villages. The herd was holed up in Patala forest.
The animals damaged the houses of Chintamanai Mohant, Bahadula Nayak and Khetra Nayak, apart from feeding on their paddy and rice stocks. The elephants had also unleashed a reign of terror at Rengal Goda, Raruan and Hrudarampur by damaging some houses.
Locals demanded that the forest department take immediate steps to prevent the animals from entering human habitations.
PNN