VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Nov 16: A herd of 22-wild elephants which has unleashed a reign of terror in Daru block village on Wednesday damaged a well to pull out a calf. Villagers said this incident taken place in Jinga village of Daru block at three in the morning. After taking out the calf, elephants damaged the standing crops as well as a pig and goat farm incurring a big loss to the owner.
Owners of the land, Raju Yadav and Pappu Yadav said calf which was 5 months old fell into this well. Water was only six feet away from surface and so calf was floating. Herd which comprises of two pregnant elephants gathered here and damaged the wall of the well first. They pulled out the calf holding it from the trunk. Eyewitnesses said what elephants did has surprised them.
But for villager Suresh Gope, loss he suffered is big. My pig and goat farm raised to ground by this herd last night. Around 30-pigs weighing 70 kg each came out and entered into nearby forest. Even many goats also went into the forest area.
Villagers said before leaving this area, elephants even damaged four electric poles beside damaging standing crops in acres. We came to know from forest department that two elephants are pregnant and so it is difficult to chase them away. They said they are in panic and passing sleepless night these days.