Post News network
Angul/Banarpal, Sept 23: Panic gripped residents in Angul and its outskirts at Nalconagar after a female elephant strayed into the region and went on a rampage by going on a destruction spree in the area Wednesday.
The residents divided in groups were seen guarding their houses while women and children stayed indoors scared for their lives. District officials, police and forest personnel are camping in the area and are making all efforts to drive the pachyderm away. Nalco Medical Road, Mosque Road and TV Quarters Road wore a deserted look after reports about the stray jumbo surfaced. Policemen have been deployed in the area and are keeping a close watch on the situation.
Locals claimed the elephant was first noticed at Pragati Nagar from where it reached Sai Temple road and then arrived at Sikshyak Pada. There, it pulled down the compound wall of Aurobindo School and the gate of a residence before making its way to Ranigoda village.
In Ranigoda, villagers woke up to a trumpeting sound and panicked upon sighting the jumbo. Forest officials were informed but before they could arrive on the spot, the jumbo made its way to Kandasar village and damaged crops on farmlands.
It later went berserk and strayed into Nalconagar hospital where people tried to drive it away. It left the hospital soon but pulled down the compound wall of a nearby mosque before finally disappearing into a nearby jungle.
