Hinjilicut: A herd of wild elephants strayed into Padmanavpur village under this block in Ganjam district and wreaked havoc, Friday.
As many as 12 elephants destroyed acres of standing crops and feed on it. The marauding herd entered the human habitations from the nearby forest last night from Digapahandi forest area, officials said.
The herd comprised of two tuskers, four female elephants and four calfs.
As per sources, the herd went on a rampage in Binchipalli and Padmanavapur villages in Hinjillicut. The panicked villagers have alleged that the pachyderm herd also ate away the paddy stored for procurement causing a huge loss to them.
On being informed, forest department officials rushed to the village and launched an operation to drive away the jumbos into the wild.
“The herd has strayed into a forest near Lakhari forest and wreaking havoc in the area. Last evening, the herd was in Nuapada area. After forest officials drove it inside the forest, the herd once again entered into the villages after crossing Satapandia forest under Kukudahandi block,” forester Pradip Kumar Panda said.
While the movement of elephants is being constantly monitored, necessary steps to deal with the elephant menace are underway, the forester said.
PNN