The herd in Koderma on Friday. Telegraph picture

Hazaribagh, June 15: Farmers of Kudar and Paplo villages in Markachcho block of Koderma are paying a heavy price for growing sugarcane, only because they did not take into account tricky customers in elephants.

A herd of five elephants that strayed into Beherwa forest in Markachcho, 53km from the district headquarters, from neighbouring Giridih on Monday, has so far devoured three acres of sugarcane and damaged four houses.

Forest officials confirmed that the herd had taken shelter in the forest for the past four days, giving sleepless nights to residents of the twin villages. The herd can also choose to quench their thirst or cool off at the nearby Paplo dam.

On learning about the presence of the herd, which includes a calf, curious villagers gathered in large numbers on Tuesday to witness the elephants taking a dip in the dam.

A villager suddenly pelted stones at the elephants, angering the animals as they charged at the crowd. A person called Banshi Ram of Simaria village fell on the ground, fracturing a leg, but was rescued.

A villager who had gone to see the elephants said the people were eager to observe the calf that was barely two to three months’ old.

Yesterday, a few labourers who were involved in construction of a road from Harladih leading up a bridge across Barakar river fled fearing for their lives on seeing the elephants.