Keonjhar: A 23-elephant herd from Karanjia forest range in Mayurbhanj district is on a rampage in Saharapada and Garandijodi areas near Patana Forest range in Keonjhar district.
The elephants have destroyed standing crops and houses of many people in the area.
According to villagers, the jumbos were initially roaming around Baikala area under Patana range Monday. While returning to the reserve forest, they destroyed the crops and houses of Gojitangiri and Baikala residents especially of Daitari Nayak, Khirod Nayak, Sudarshan Nayak and Nidhi Nayak.
On being informed, the Forest Department officials reached the spot Tuesday morning and tried to drive out the animals from the area to Karanjia forest in collaboration with locals.
Villagers, however, demanded compensation along with implementation of permanent measures to drive away the herd from their settlements.
PNN