SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 23: Camping of a herd of 26 elephants on the hilly forest for the last four days has triggered panic among over two dozen villages in Begonoriya Panchayat of South Tundi block, around 40 km away from the district headquarters.
Villagers have complained that despite informing the forest department, no action has been taken in the last four days to provide relief to residents from the growing danger of the herd.
However, Divisional Forest officer (DFO) Dhanbad Vimal Lakra told media persons that the department has been monitoring activities of elephants and is trying to stop the herd from entering the residential area.
“Department is lacking proper numbers of staff to chase away the herd. Meanwhile, a team would go soon in the area to assess the loss of damage to the villagers,” said the DFO.
Officials said that the elephants generally live in the forest during the daytime and descend to residential areas at night, making it tough for forest staff to check them.
A report reaching the district headquarters said that villagers of Gobakola village noticed the camping elephants in the forest on Tuesday night when the herd broke the wall of Avishwar Murmu’s house and damaged the standing paddy crop of over dozen villagers in the field.
“Elephants attacked my house at around 12.30 am. Before they pulled down the wall of the room, I managed to flee with my wife and children,” said Murmu.
As per officials of the forest department, smell of Mahua (country made liquor) and paddy attract elephants most. In search of Mahua liquor, they raid houses of the villagers. Since most of the villages in South Tundi block fall on the traditional corridor of elephants, the herds camp here during winter and damage houses for liquor.
Last year, having apprehended the elephant menace, the forest department had requested the villagers through the address system to avoid making Mahua liquor.
