Baripada: A herd of elephants went on a rampage on the premises of a Sevshram School at Kurulia under Karanjia block in Mayurbhanj district late Monday night.
The 21-member herd pulled down two boundary walls, a gate and a kitchen. The animals ate rice packed in 12 sacks and two sackfulls of flattened rice, apart from damaging furniture.
The inmates of the Sevashram, however, managed to escape outside while local people helped them out.
The animals also damaged a shop at Kurulia. Manager of the Sevashram, Congress Bhai, demanded immediate compensation for the loss.
Assistant Conservator of forest Batakrushna Padhi said the loss will be assessed and compensation will be provided to the Sevasrham.
Woman critical in jumbo attack
Joda: Elephants have left people in Joda forest division panicked. Twelve elephants split into three groups have been unleashing a reign of terror in Gurubeda and Bandhuabeda for the last few days, said Joda forester Peon Nayak. Seven of the animals are from neighbouring Jharkhand. Meanwhile, a tusker attacked an elderly woman at Bandhuabeda Monday night. Critically wounded, the woman was admitted to the district headquarters hospital. As people are jittery for the last four days, forest officials from Joda, Champua and Kalimati have been making efforts to drive away the animals. A 20-member squad has been formed to drive the pachyderms away from the locality.
PNN