Jhumpura: After a brief interval, an elephant has again unleashed a reign of terror in the Jhumpura area of Keonjhar. The elephant damaged four houses Saturday night and injured an elderly woman seriously.
Tuskers have been carrying on destruction near forest pockets. As the animals are on a wrecking spree, the people of Goduatopa, Kaliapal, Sanakalimati, Nunagadia, Bamandihi, Basantpur, Nedigotha, Patuakudar, Kasia and Andharkhamani villages are having sleepless nights.
Late Saturday night, a tusker entered Kaliapal in Malda panchayat and broke a house. A few hours later, the same animal damaged three more houses in Goduatopa village.
An elderly tribal woman named Gurei Munda was injured critically after a wall broke and fell down on her. Forest officials rushed her to a hospital.
Bamebari forester Jatindra Sahu said that Forest officials are keeping a close watch on the tusker.
Reports said that tuskers, separated from their herds, have killed eight people in the last three years. They have damaged over 100 houses and crops.
Areas like Patua Kudar, Kaliapal, Goduatopa, Nedigotha, Nunagadia, Bamandiha, Naibuga, Kasia and Sanakalimati in Bamabari Forest Section are highly vulnerable to elephant attacks.
In May, a person was killed by an elephant in the Soso Kushatikiri area in Ananadapur Wildlife Section.
Locals said the Forest department was not taking effective steps to contain the animals. Keonjhar DFO Santosh Joshi said that efforts are on to track the tusker.
PNN
