Panic gripped villages in Rasagobindpur Forest range in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha after three herds of over 120 wild elephants damaged vast stretch of standing crop.

In Mayurbhanj district, more than 120 elephants of the neighboring Jharkhand entered the Rasagobindpur Forest Range Mayurbhanj district from the border areas of West Bengal on Friday night and wreaked havoc in 10 to 12 villages by destroying hundreds of acres of paddy fields.

120 elephants in 2 to 4 groups went on a rampage spree in Mayurbhanj’s Rasgobindpur block under Betnoti Range in Odisha. Elephants have destroyed farming fields and houses in the area causing huge loss to the villagers. In last two to three months, jumbos have been creating havoc in Mayurbhanj. Villagers are risking their lives and are counter attacking elephants to save their crops from destruction.

Forest department not able to control these wild elephants due to unwillingness, no man power. Officers are not taking any serious actions allegedly said Mr.SHIVAJI MOULICK, (Chairman of Similipal Protection Grop).