Bhubaneswar, April 18: After a brief lull, elephant movement has resurfaced in the Shikharchandi area on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, with two tuskers creating panic since Friday night.

The Forest Department has launched a tracking operation to prevent the elephants from entering the city. Two special teams have been deployed, comprising personnel from the Chandaka Forest and Bhubaneswar ranges.

Officials said efforts are underway to locate and drive the elephants back into the forest using torches and sirens. According to the Deputy Ranger, the tuskers are suspected to have strayed from the Chandaka forest in search of mangoes.

Similarly, in February 2026, elephants again strayed into the Shikharchandi hills, damaging fences and moving close to human settlements, triggering panic among residents. Officials have attributed such recurring incidents to elephants straying from the nearby Chandaka forest in search of food and water, highlighting the growing human-elephant conflict in the region.