Dhenkanal, Dec 31: A herd of elephants has created panic near the Kualo Ashta Sambhu temple in Dhenkanal district on Thursday.

According to sources, a herd of about 30 elephants entered the Kualo temple after breaking its main gate and ate up quintals of rice kept in the temple’s storage.

Following this, the locals initiated a chase operation but in vain. However, the forest officials drove the pachyderms after a strenuous operation.

Worth mentioning, this is not the first time the animals created such destruction in the area. On September 29   an elephant trampled and killed a 60-year old farmer in Kandabindha village under Sadar Forest range in Dhenkanal district.