Kalahandi: A herd of elephants wreaked havoc in Samarpata village under Narla block of Kalahandi district Tuesday.
The wild herd strayed into the village and destroyed acres of paddy along with other crops.
Many houses were also damaged by the animals that came to the human settlement in search of food.
That said, it is nothing new for the locals to experience elephant menace since the herd often comes to human settlements at night and eat the standing crops.
The villagers said that the herd stays in the forest close to their village during the daytime. They have urged the forest department to drive the elephants deeper into the forest.
“These elephants have become a serious cause for concern us in the village and nearby areas of the district. Apart from damage to crops and property, they pose a threat to our lives,” said a local man.
On being informed, forest department officials reached the spot and launched an operation to drive the animals away into the jungle. Besides, a strict vigil is being maintained on the movement of the herd.
PNN