Bokaro, Feb. 17: Houses and standing crops were destroyed at three villages of Petarwar block, some 49km from Bokaro steel city, late last night after an attack by two elephants that continued till the wee hours of today.

The elephants first attacked Rukam village where they damaged standing crops of Budhan and Chuttu Rajwar and Shivlal Manjhi. The elephants left the village only after the residents drove them away by beating drums and bursting crackers..

The two elephants were last seen in Petarwar forests around 11am.

A forest official said that the elephants entered the block after crossing Sewati hills from Purulia in Bengal.

Narrating the horror, Shivlal of Rukam village said they were sleeping in their houses when they suddenly heard trumpeting of elephants.

"The elephants had entered my field where they had run amok damaging crops. They continued with the havoc for about 30 minutes. Then around 50 of us assembled and started beating drums and burning crackers to drive them away," said Manjhi.

Budhan and Petarwar zilla parishad member Manju Kumari Jain informed Bokaro forest ranger Arun Kumar of the attack this morning.

The ranger visited the villages with his team of officials <> and assured residents they would be given compensation. "Though the elephants have retreated to the Petarwar jungles, a round-the-clock vigilance is being kept. The villagers have been asked to remain alert. Crackers, kerosene oil and other materials which can come in handy to chase away the elephants, in case they return, have been given to the villagers," said Kumar.

Kumar added that the forest department was trying its best to keep away wild elephants by taking several measures which included setting up solar fencing near residential areas.

"Villagers are also being educated about various ways of driving the elephants away,"said Kumar.