Digapahandi: Panic gripped the residents of Podabadi village under this block in Ganjam district after a jumbo herd went on a rampage and crushed mango plants worth Rs 3 lakh of 35 farmers under their feet.
The villagers have been in a state of panic for the last three days after the herd comprising six elephants, who were earlier confined in Mahupathar and Jodibata areas of Changudei reserve forest, suddenly strayed into the human settlement and unleashed a reign of terror.
The mango cultivation is spread over 80 acre of land in the village. Some of the affected villagers are Somanath Dalei, Harish Chandra Dalei, Ramakrushna Dalei, Lakshman Dalei, Sanatan Dalei, Rajesh Dalei, Bhaskar Goud, Kanhei Goud, Bijay Goud, Debaraj Nayak, Bhalu Badatya and Biswanath Goud.
The incident has triggered fear among the villagers in Mathura, Guma Podabadi, Chanchadapalli, Aanlaguda, Chakatentuli, Duargaon, Bhusunda, Nandagaon, Kuniagaon and adjoining villages. The villagers now prefer to stay indoor after sunset. The village roads wears a deserted look even in the afternoon as people do not feel safe to step out of their homes with fear of being attacked by the pachyderms.
When contacted, Digapahandi forest ranger Paramananda Panigrahi admitted to the development stating he would recommend the names of the victims to the higher authorities for compensation once their applications are received.
He said an alert has been sounded in the village about the movement of the elephant herd while forest officials have been deployed to drive away the pachyderms.