Athgarh: A herd of at least 30 elephants brought vehicular movements on NH-55 near Bali Baula under Athagarh forest division in Cuttack district to a major halt while crossing the road Wednesday.
According to sources, the herd of elephants had ventured into the human habitation from the nearby forest. The pachyderms had strayed into the locality in search of food and tried to cross the highway in the morning.
They blocked the NH affecting vehicular movement for at least an hour. Hundreds of vehicles remained stranded on the highway due to the movement of the herd. Commuters faced a harrowing time because of the elephant menace.
Panic gripped the locals who feared attack by the herd. However, no loss of properties has been reported by the herd so far.
Meanwhile, locals alerted forest department officials following which an operation to drive away the herd into the forest was launched, sources said.
PNN