Keonjhar, : Panic and tension engulfed locals after herds of elephants, in two separate incidents, wreaked havoc at the Patna and Telakoi range of Keonjhar district on Saturday night.
In the Patna range, a herd of 22 elephants intruded the human habitation area and ransacked a total of six houses in the Katabeda and Asanabahali villages.
Meanwhile, in the Telakoi range, a herd of 30 elephants entered the Bimala forest beat at around 2:00 am and destroyed standing crops on eight acres of farmland. The elephants have also damaged a house here.
Scared of the jumbos, the villagers in both areas are now temporarily shifting to safe places.
Meanwhile, the forest officials have initiated an operation to drive the elephants out of the human habitations.
