Keonjhar, Jan 13: A herd of elephants has created panic in the Champua range of Odisha’s Keonjhar district after straying into several villages and causing extensive damage to crops and property. Acres of paddy and vegetable fields have reportedly been destroyed, leaving farmers distressed.

According to sources, the elephants have been repeatedly entering human settlements, damaging houses and trampling standing crops. Despite continuous efforts by the Forest Department to track and regulate their movement, the animals have continued to move towards village areas, escalating the situation.

On Saturday night, a lone tusker separated from the herd entered Bankira village and went on a rampage for several hours. The elephant uprooted crops and damaged property, triggering fear among residents. Villagers eventually managed to drive the animal away by raising loud alarms, but not before significant damage had been caused to fields and homes.

Forest officials have expressed concern over the increasing incidents of human-elephant conflict in the region. Teams are actively monitoring the movement of the herd and making efforts to drive the elephants back into forest areas to prevent further losses.

Meanwhile, villagers have urged the authorities to adopt stronger preventive measures and ensure better coordination between the Forest Department and local communities to avert such incidents in the future and protect both human lives and wildlife.