Naraj: A herd of elephants was spotted on an islet in Mahanadi river here.
According to locals, the herd comprising 11 jumbos came from Athagarh forests and made a halt at the islet while crossing the river.
On being informed, Forest department officials led by Damapada ranger Sangram Keshari Mohnaty reached Naraj and kept a close watch on the elephants.
The Forest department has formed two teams to chase away the elephants into the forests. One team has been stationed at Nuasahi near Mundali while members of the other team were monitoring the situation from Bhagipur.
“The herd has four cow elephants, three bull elephants and four calves. The elephants were perhaps trying to reach Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary by crossing Mahanadi,” said an official of Forest department.
According to him, the elephants often travel from one forest to other at night. The jumbos usually make a halt at some isolated place during daytime.
“We will try to chase the elephant away into Chandaka-Damapada sanctuary after the sunset,” said the official.
Sources, meanwhile, claimed that the elephants were forced to make a halt at the islet inside Mahanadi as hundreds of people gathered on the embankment to see them.