Chhattisgarh’s Kabirdham district administration on Wednesday issued an alert after sighting a herd of elephants in Baiga tribal dominated Bodla block. The herd has caused extensive damage to standing crops.
District Collector Ramesh Kumar Sharma also issued a security advisory for the people to follow as precautions.
District Divisional Forest Officer Dilraj Prabhakar said that after sighting 14 elephants, inspection of affected villages in Bodla block bordering Madhya Pradesh was conducted.
The Forest Department has handed over immediate relief to affected farmers, whose standing crops have been damaged by the herd. Further financial assistance will be given to farmers based after the total assessment based on intensity of damage.
The villagers have been provided mobile numbers of officials in case of any emergency.
DFO Prabhakar said villagers have been directed to keep a distance of 200 metres from the herd.
They have been asked to refrain from taking selfies or photographs. If the herd enters the village, then they can be pushed back by lighting torches.
If an elephant attacks, a person should run in a zig-zag mode or run up a hill. One can dump a cloth to divert the attention of the elephant. One can also run with the direction of the wind to avoid detection by smell.