Jumbo scare grips Betnoti tribals

BARIPADA: Hundreds of tribal families in Betnoti area of Mayurbhanj district are spending sleepless nights as a herd of elephants is camping in the nearby forests. The tribals are lighting bonfires outside their houses during the night and are staying indoors after sunset.

On Tuesday night, communication on National Highway-18 was disrupted for some hours as the elephant herd crossed it.

As per reports, the herd consisting of around 92 elephants from neighbouring West Bengal sneaked into Mayurbhanj 20 days back taking forest routes of Deuli and Rasgobindpur ranges. They crossed Deuli, Rasgobindpur and Betnoti ranges and reached Kuldiha in Balasore district.

On the way, the herd damaged hectares of standing paddy crops, harvested paddy, banana orchards, vegetable patches and houses in several villages along the banks of Budhabalanga river. Farmers near forest areas of Ashanbani, Saria, Dalki, Kainphulia, Patalipur, Nadpur, Phuljhari, Gadgadia, Badamsul, Ghanaghana, Telia, Gongasuli, Tarudihi, Nekoda, Salbani and Badshul of both Rasgobindpur and Betnoti ranges along with Gopalpur village of Nilagiri area in Balasore were affected by the elephants.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Baripada Soyam Kumar Mallik said as the elephants are in three groups, the department is finding it tough to drive them away from the areas.

He further informed that after staying put at Kuldiha Sanctuary in Nilagiri for six days, the herd moved back to Baripada Forest Division on Tuesday by the same forest routes. The herd is now at Jugal reserve forest under Betnoti range since two days. “Panic gripped the area after the herd sneaked into nearby villages last night,” he said and added that 120 trained personnel along with 40 staffers led by Betnoti Ranger Ghanashyam Singh have been engaged to drive the elephants away from the reserve forest.

This apart, staff from six ranges of Baripada Forest Division have been pressed into service. A horse and its master have also been deployed in the area as the animal’s excreta keeps elephants away from human habitations, the DFO said and added that electricity supply to villages near the forest has been snapped.