An atmosphere of fear grips Bardhana and surrounding villages in Odisha’s Champua range following a raid by a 25-member elephant herd, consisting of 3 tuskers, 12 females, and 10 calves.
Emerging from the Mangalpur forest via Jhaliabeda, the herd entered Bardhana village under the Ukhunda section, demolishing a house and laying waste to extensive ripening paddy crops. The destruction has severely alarmed local farmers, while residents remain too terrified to step outside after dark.
Locals note that this herd has repeatedly targeted various villages across the Champua Range, prompting urgent demands for the Forest Department to implement permanent preventive solutions. Meanwhile, forest personnel are closely monitoring the herd and working to safely drive the animals back into the forest.