Boinda/Athgarh: The death of tuskers due to electrocution is yet to come to an end as another tusker was found dead after coming in contact with a live wire allegedly laid by poachers in a paddy field to catch boars at Hemamura village under Handpa forest range of Athamallik block in Angul district late Tuesday night.
The matter came to the fore after some farmers of the village, on their way to work, spotted the pachyderm lying dead on the paddy field and alerted the forest officials. While no exact reason of the electrocution was known, locals suspected it might have come in contact with an 11kv live wire spread by poachers to catch boars.
The incident has spread tension in the area as the tusker was only 10-year-old. The incident comes in the wake of the killing of seven pachyderms due to electrocution in Dhenkanal district.
Similarly, a herd of over 40 elephants from Jharkhand strayed into the Nilagiri area in Balasore district triggering panic in the area today morning.
According to sources, the jumbos were found destroying agricultural fields and damaging vast stretch of standing crops and paddy nearby Gopalpur forest.
A local resident Nanda Nayak said, “More than 40 elephants have strayed into the region. We have to remain alert to prevent any untoward incident.”
Forest officials said they are keeping a close watch on the movement of the herd and steps are being taken to drive away the jumbos into deep jungle.
“The herd reached Kathpal area last night at around 2 AM and crossed here early Wednesday morning. It is not known, whether it is same old herd or a new one,” Forest officer, Prakash Mardaraj said.
On the other hand, panic gripped the residents here after a herd of 10-12 elephants from Athgarh forest division, sighted crossing river Mahanadi, strayed into the outskirts of the city late Tuesday night and wreaked havoc.
After getting information, forest officials jumped into action and launched an operation to drive away the elephants back to the forest.
“It is estimated that nearly 10-12 elephants from Athagarh forest division are there in the herd. Our priority is to drive out the elephants so that they do not enter the city,” forest official Mohammad Jamir said adding that adequate forest officials and police forces have been deployed to drive out the elephants.
Elephants damage crops, house
Lanjigarh: At least 40 wild elephants Tuesday evening entered Bairikupuli village under the block and destroyed crops and a house of the village. According to sources, the herd first damaged paddy, cotton and vegetables in the farmland belonging to Sani Majhi, Purna majhi, Karil majhi. Boda Majhi, Gora majhi, Lakasa Majhi, Natha Majhi and others. Then it went to the village where it completely destroyed a hatched house of Santosh Majhi. On being informed, Biswanathpur forest officials reached the village and launched a probe into the incident. The villagers would be provided compensation after the probe report comes in, informed Biswanathpur ranger Lakhya Mahananda.
PNN
