Rogue elephants destroyed 20 more houses in Balasore's Nilagiri area on Thursday forcing people to spend nights on tree tops and take shelter in temporary relief camps set up by the district administration.
People in the area are scared for their lives and are quite upset with the administration doing little for their safety.
"The elephants are destroying everything in the village. Forest and revenue officials have visited the place, but nothing concrete has been done. Villagers are very worried about their safety," said Laxman Majhi, a resident.
Elephants have completely plundered Hatiganda and Sataranda villages and still others are on the verge of being attacked. These include Bayarsahi, Tiakata, Ambajhar, Chainder, Asabani, Radhakrushnapur, Kathapal and Kundal. So far, over 600 people have been affected.
Dozens of families have migrated from the affected villages after a herd of wild elephants ran amok. "Some 80 families have moved to safer areas for a brief period after wild jumbos sneaked into their villages a week ago and demolished several houses. Now we are providing them with food," said sub-collector Kulamani Mishra.
Many people have sought refuge on tree tops. "I have sent my family to the relief camp. But I am staying on the roof top as I have to keep an eye on my house. I burst crackers when the jumbos near the village. What more can I do?" said Katia Singh, a farmer.
With paddy ready for harvest, farmers are a worried lot. The administration has snapped power supply in the area from 6pm to 6am fearing that residents may electrocute the elephants.
"These elephants are a menace. They kill our folk, they hurt us, damage our crops. The government hardly does anything to end the menace. They do compensate the families but that's not enough," said Madhu Patra, a local villager.
Forest officials, however, maintain that elephants harm only when provoked. "They have come in search of fodder. After some days they will return back. But the people are provoking them by throwing crackers and hurting them. We have alerted them not to do so otherwise the animals will be more violent," said divisional forest officer Kedar Swain.
People in the area are scared for their lives and are quite upset with the administration doing little for their safety.
"The elephants are destroying everything in the village. Forest and revenue officials have visited the place, but nothing concrete has been done. Villagers are very worried about their safety," said Laxman Majhi, a resident.
Elephants have completely plundered Hatiganda and Sataranda villages and still others are on the verge of being attacked. These include Bayarsahi, Tiakata, Ambajhar, Chainder, Asabani, Radhakrushnapur, Kathapal and Kundal. So far, over 600 people have been affected.
Dozens of families have migrated from the affected villages after a herd of wild elephants ran amok. "Some 80 families have moved to safer areas for a brief period after wild jumbos sneaked into their villages a week ago and demolished several houses. Now we are providing them with food," said sub-collector Kulamani Mishra.
Many people have sought refuge on tree tops. "I have sent my family to the relief camp. But I am staying on the roof top as I have to keep an eye on my house. I burst crackers when the jumbos near the village. What more can I do?" said Katia Singh, a farmer.
With paddy ready for harvest, farmers are a worried lot. The administration has snapped power supply in the area from 6pm to 6am fearing that residents may electrocute the elephants.
"These elephants are a menace. They kill our folk, they hurt us, damage our crops. The government hardly does anything to end the menace. They do compensate the families but that's not enough," said Madhu Patra, a local villager.
Forest officials, however, maintain that elephants harm only when provoked. "They have come in search of fodder. After some days they will return back. But the people are provoking them by throwing crackers and hurting them. We have alerted them not to do so otherwise the animals will be more violent," said divisional forest officer Kedar Swain.
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