Sajanagad: A day after damaging six houses in Sajanagada area in Balasore, a herd of elephants from Jharkhand again went on a rampage in the same area Saturday night.
Agitated over the elephant menace people of the locality have warned to launch a stir if the Forest department fails to assess the extent of damage and drive out the herd immediately.
The elephants damaged nine houses at Sataghati and Mundaghara villages Saturday night. People whose houses were destroyed include Ramchandra Singh, Budhu Singh, Sombari Singh, Hadibandhu Singh, Gurba Singh, Punia Singh, Shyamsundar Singh, Durga Singh and Shyamsundar Sinku.
The 28-member herd had earlier damaged six houses and killed a cow at Godishola village in Jamudiha panchayat and Baunsanala in Jadida panchayat respectively.
They destroyed the houses of nine people Saturday night. The jumbos emerge from the forest at night and cause mayhem.
The pachyderms have damaged banana and pineapple plantation and jackfruit trees in the area.
Upset over the chaos created by the elephants, locals met Nilagiri MLA Sunday and showed him the extent of damage caused by the elephants. They accused the administration and the Forest department of neglecting their cause.
The MLA expressed grief over the damages and assured that he would talk to the Collector and ensure financial assistance to the affected people.
As the elephant herd has holed up in Tinikosia Reserve Forest, people at Satarandi, Tereldidhi, Dhiriguth, Bhalukasuni, Ambajhar and Chekamara are panicked and spending sleepless nights.
PNN
