In a shocking incident a wild elephant strayed into close to human habitat in Kadma on one side and Adityapur in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district on Monday morning.
The jumbo, which seemed to have parted from a herd of elephants from Seraikela jungle had been to Kharkai river along Kadma in Jamshedpur for over an hour, causing panic among the people.
The elephant which was seen in the river and later crossed over to the fields in Adityapur area was about seven feet tall.
Divisional forest officer, Seraikela, A Ekka confirmed about a wild elephant in Kharkai river close to the steel city.
"Yes we have the information that a wild elephant has strayed into close to the human habitat in Jamshedpur. Though we are investigating but as per initial information the elephant must be in a herd and later parted the herd incidentally. The forest department officials are trying to locate the jumbo and also the herd so that it can be driven back to it for reunion," said Ekka.
The divisional forest officer, when queried, said that the elephants herd must be somewhere around Gamharia for grazing the paddy crops and the lone jumbo might have parted from the herd in the night.
The forest department officials informed that the elephants are fond of paddy. When they move in their migratory path they stomach the standing crops by grazing the paddy fields. On their return they target the harvested crops kept inside the house.
Elephants tend to damage house partially as they target that portion of the house where the harvested paddy is stocked.
Notably, for the last couple of months several pockets of Seraikela- Kharswan district had witnessed wrath of elephants and despite taking necessary measures by the forest department three deaths of local villagers have been reported so far this year.