After causing havoc in Sadar, Balishankara and Subdega blocks, an elephant herd has unleashed terror in Rajgangpur block for last seven days.
Sources said the elephant herd comprising 10 elephants has entered into Rajgangpur block limits through Kuarmunda range and it is quite difficult to keep vigil on their movement due to heavy heat wave. The locals are scared as the pachyderms are causing damage to the houses
and crops.
Reports said while on May 9, the herd damaged two houses in Badanuagaon area, on May 10, it damaged two houses in Ramalata area, on 12 May it did the same with 2 houses in Satajore area. On May 13, it again flattened five houses
in Badanuagaon.
Meanwhile, anticipating the movement of the herd, the forest officials have alerted the Badanuagaon villagers and vacated the houses, largely helping prevent casualty. So far only one woman was injured
by the elephants in
Rajgangpur block.
As per the unofficial sources, about 150 elephants are staying in a stretch between Rourkela and Rajgangpur. While in day time they are staying in the core zone of the forest, they are straying into the residential areas in a group oat night. According to forest officials, they enter into the residential areas in search of food and once they get a favourable situation, they hesitate to leave the place.
It is also to be mentioned here that as Sundargarh district has 2,000 km elephant corridor, stretching from Sarguja of Madhya Pradesh to Betla through Saranda Jungle of Jharkhand, elephant roaming and causing destruction is a common issue of concern in the district.