Elephants have once again begun wreaking havoc in Mayurbhanj. About 20 elephants, after a gap of about 20 days, crossed over to this district from the neighbouring district of Keonjhar.
According to the villagers of the affected areas, the aggressive elephants came into Sukruli block of the district from Keonjhar side in the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday, having crossed over the river Baitarani. They first destroyed the house of one Surendra Ray of Jagannathpur village and then, after being chased away by the villagers and Forest department employees, they went away to other villages like Jamunalia, Upardiha, Tilabeda and Kasiabeda. The elephants destroyed a large number of paddy fields in these areas.
While farmers, Susanta Dandapat, Mukund Nayak, Aiban Siddu, Padmalochan Nayak, Sitaram Siddu, Rajani Giri and many others of Jamunalia village were hit hard, farmers, Krushna Mahakud, Paramand Nayak Rout Moharana, Kamini Mahakud and some others of Upardiha village and Manohar Giri, Satyanand Giri of Kasiabeda and Jashobant Nayak, Dambaru Nayak, Chitrasen Nayak and many others of Tilabeda village were also devastated due to elephant menace, as their paddy fields were all ruined.
The elephants were still roaming in the area. However, the farmers in the affected areas are now greatly disturbed, for the elephant menace has come at a time, when all were hopeful of a good harvest this year.