Elephants damage houses and crops in Odisha

Koraput (

), Aug 6: Two elephants have caused havoc since last week by damaging houses and standing

in several villages here, forest officials said today.

The two jumbos, separated from a herd of eight, razed four houses to ground at Panchada and Koilaguda villages and destroyed large tracts of agricultural land under Laxmipur forest range, "With the jumbos staying put on hilltops during the day and entering villages after dark, we are virtually having sleepless nights," said Sukua Saunta of Kailaguda village.

The elephants destroyed his house on Sunday night.

"We have informed the forest officers. We want them to drive away the pachyderms," said Iswar Saunta, another local. "We are tracking the animals and efforts are on to drive them away. Compensation will be paid to the affected persons," said Forest Range Officer (Laxmipur) Ranjan Kumar Nag.

PTI