Villagers spend sleepless night due to Jumbo Fear at Lakhanpur Block under Jharsuguda District

Jharsuguda: �A herd of the elephant had wrecked havoc in Village Pithinda under Lakhanpur Block on the wee hour on Monday. The elephant had damaged a Vanradha of a House and destroyed around 70 Banana crop and three Coconut trees in Pithinda Village.

Besides the village of Pithinda, nearby village Tilgi is also spending sleepless nights because of these wild elephants. The herd, which comprises of 19 elephants has been moving in that area since June 14th.

Due to the presence of this herd, the villagers who have cultivated vegetables on the banks of river Mahanadi have stopped going to their field. Even the fisherman have stopped going to Mahanadi fearing the herd of Elephant.

“We have sowed various crops near the Mahanadi bank because of fertile soil. However, we are scared to go to the field because of the wild elephant now.” said a Tilgi villager Suresh Barik

“The elephants are moving near the Mahanadi reservoir area in-between�Tilgi and Pithinda Village.The herd has come from the Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary area by crossing the reservoir.� We are trying to chase away the herd ” said a forest official

Jharsuguda DFO Sushant Kumar said “The elephant squad of the department is closely monitoring the movement of the herd. We have also alerted the villagers regarding the presence elephant. ”

Earlier in the month of February, marauding elephants and killed two people under Lakhanpur Block area in the district. The villagers had also staged a protest and had blocked the NH-49 for around five hours in demand to chase away the elephant.