Sundargarh district continues to be in the grip of elephant menace. Recently, about eight families of a village under Balishankara block were forced to leave the village fearing elephant attack.
Talsara MlA Prafulla Majhi along with Balishankar BDO, forest and revenue officials rushed to the village on Monday to take stock of the situation.Sources said that about 30 elephants have been camping in Balishankara block under Rouldega forest section in last few days and are creating havoc in the locality. Forest officials’ effort to drive them away has become futile. The elephant herd entered into Goghar Mundapada village under Balishankara block at night several times in last five days and damaged eight houses completely. On Sunday, the eight families of the village left the village to reside in some other place.
Meanwhile, after the assessment of situation, the Government provided 8 kg rice and a polythene sheet each to the victims. MlA Majhi also advised BDO Ashwini Kumar Meher to provide houses to those homeless families under Mo Kudia schemes. The local sarpanch provided a 50 kg rice packet to the eight families as immediate relief.According to forest official sources, the elephant herd was driven away on Sunday night towards Chhatisgarh forest and a forest squad had been keeping close watch on its movement.