Champua: There is no let-up in the elephant menace in Champua forest range of Keonjhar district, with farmers in the area spending sleepless nights.
For the last two days, a herd of 23 elephants strayed out of a forest and caused damage to paddy cultivation in wards 12 and 13 of Champua Notified Area Council.
The animals damaged the house of Manu Munda and pulled down the boundary wall of Gourang Nayak’s house.
The pachyderms have been damaging paddy, cabbages and maize cultivation in Patala, Rajia and Mirigisinga areas.
Though the forest officials drive out the elephants in the evening, the animals return again to damage crops, locals said. The herd has been now holed up at Jatiahudi in Jharkhand, according to forest officials.
Meanwhile, the forest department has sought the help of the police to tackle the problem.
A couple of days ago, the animals had caused extensive damage to crops at Patana in Phuljhar panchayat under Bansapal block.
The elephants have also reportedly damaged several houses in the area. Poor tribals have been living amid fears of attack from the pachyderms.
They demanded immediate assessment of the crop and house damage.
PNN
