KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar , Dec 17: At least one person has been killed and four others injured with over 40 wild elephants from Chandaka Dompara Sanctuary and Elephant Reserve creating havoc in at least five different locations outside their habitat.

The elephants had spread over three divisional forest areas such as Chandaka, Khurda and Chilika, making it difficult for the forest authorities to make them return to their home territory.

The number of elephants that had reached Nirakarpur area close to Chilika, Tartua, Jariput and Jaimangal would be between 35 and 40, Khurda Divisional Forest Officer G. Rajesh said.

It is for the first time that a herd of eight elephants had reached Nirakarpur near Chilika Lake , about 80 km away from Chandaka sanctuary situated on the outskirts of the city. This herd had attacked the villagers in Lendu gram panchayat.

While one person Bhimsen Chhotray (62) succumbed to his injuries at the Khurda hospital on Monday, the four injured were undergoing treatment at different hospitals.

Besides, a group comprising six to seven elephants was present at Tartua. But a tusker that had drifted from this herd was creating trouble for the people. It had caused a road accident on the National Highway No. 5 on Sunday night damaging an Indica Car.

The biggest group comprising about 25 elephants was present at Jariput, while a lone elephant was seen at Jaimangal.

Further, more elephants from Chandaka were also entering into the paddy fields in Bharatpur and Dompara areas. While one elephant had entered Bharatpur village, around 20 were present in Dompara area. This herd, however, was going inside the sanctuary at frequent intervals.

Interestingly, there were more elephants inside Chandaka than outside on Monday. The sanctuary has a total of 67 elephants as per the latest census conducted this year.

The Divisional Forest Officers of Chandaka, Khurda and Chilika were working closely to launch joint operations during night time to make the elephants return to Chandaka.

The authorities were apprehending further trouble as it was quite a difficult task to make the elephants found their way to Chandaka.