Nayagarh, August 6: Residents of the Kantilo area under Khandapada block in Odisha's Nayagarh district have breathed a sigh of relief after a tusker that had been roaming the region for nearly a month finally left the area.

The elephant had reportedly strayed into the Kantilo forest from the Satkosia landscape and had been moving through nearby forests, triggering fear among villagers over the past several weeks.

The tusker was last spotted on Sunday evening in the forest near Nuagaon under Bada Banpur Gram Panchayat. Later that night, it reached the Ganga Mata temple ghat near the western gate of the Nilamadhab Temple. As the annual Bol Bam pilgrimage was in progress, the Mahanadi river ghat and adjoining market area were crowded with devotees.

According to eyewitnesses, the elephant became alarmed by the noise of the gathering, entered the Mahanadi River, and was swept away by the strong flood currents.

The Forest Department immediately launched a drone-based monitoring operation to track the animal's movement. Officials said the elephant drifted downstream and eventually reached the Bhattarika area under the Badamba Forest Range.

The incident comes amid heavy rainfall across Odisha, which has caused rivers to swell and increased the risk of flooding in low-lying areas. Floodwaters have also carried several wild animals downstream in recent days. Earlier, otters were spotted in the Naraj area of Cuttack, while crocodile sightings have been reported from the Brahmani River and some tributaries of the Mahanadi, prompting concerns among local residents.