The residents of Khandagiri, Ghatikia and other peripheral areas in the city heaved a sigh of relief after a wild tusker, which had cast a reign of terror for the last three days, finally entered the Chandaka jungle on Sunday morning.
The forest officials who had a tough time in dealing with the animal for two days at last succeeded in their efforts. The elephant had sneaked into the Jayadev Vatika (park) at Khandagiri and stayed put there for the last two days.
The tusker has now crossed the city limits via Ghatikia and Shyampur Nuagaon into the Chandaka, but its movement is being closely monitored, informed forest officials.
Earlier, the elephant had triggered panic after it had strayed into the Jayadev Vatika on Friday. Three persons were injured while trying to drive away the elephant from the Jayadev Vatika.
Before that, it had sneaked into the OUAT horticulture farm on Wednesday. However, the Forest Departments personnel’s sluggish efforts to drive away a single elephant had triggered resentment among the locals.
“Though the elephant has entered the Chandaka jungle, we are still in panic as it might return as we have no faith on forest officials,” said local residents.