Jumbos stray in Orissa villages, create panic

ANGUL - A herd of around 22 elephants strayed into the hamlets in Angul region here creating panic among the people.

It was reported that these elephants came from the neighbouring Hindol forest in search of food and in the quest of green fodder.

These jumbos later damaged the standing crops of paddy and even injured a few villagers.

The presence of the elephants in the region has created fear among the people, as these jumbos roam freely in the area and attack any person who comes in their way.

The scared villagers have informed about this to the concerned forest authorities.

Narayan Sahoo, the Wildlife Warden of Hindol Range, said that the elephants do not generally frequent these villages; and must have strayed out of the forest in search of food.

“These elephants have been encircled by people from all the sides. We want them to leave the area. These elephants might get angry and attack the people,” said Sahoo.

“The children watching them could be hurt. This (vicinity of our village) is not their usual route but they have come in search of food here,” he added.

Praful Behra, a local villager claimed that earlier also the elephants had attacked a woman, who is being treated at a hospital in Cuttack since the Angul District Hospital did not have necessary facilities to attend to her.

“The elephants attacked a woman from our village, while she was going out early in the morning. The lady was seriously injured and the doctors at the District Hospital in Angul could not treat her, she was later referred to SCB Medical Centre in Cuttack, said Behra. (ANI)