Keonjhar, Sept. 7: Locals of the Patna area in Odisha’s Keonjhar district are in panic after a herd of elephants straying here and causing massive damage for days together.
Chasing operation was intensified after the pachyderms marched on the streets leaving a number of trees and standing crops damaged in the locality.
Sources said, the elephant herd reached the Saharapada and Mirigikhoji village under the Patna Forest Range on the last Sunday and wreaked panic in the locality.
Being informed, forest officials led by the Range officer initiated a drive to tend the pachyderms to the Patna reserve forest.
However, the effort went in vain as the pachyderms were scattered away and entered into the Birala River.
The movements of the elephants are under scanner. Operation is underway to drive them to the nearest forest, said the Forest Range Officer, Patna.
