Jajpur: A wild bear strayed into the Visa steel plant at the Kalinga Nagar Industrial Complex in the district, spreading panic among employees and workers on Wednesday.

"Workers informed us that they have spotted a wild bear inside our steel plant complex at around 10am. I immediately passed on the information to forest department officials and police, who promptly reached the factory," said Chiranjib Agrwal, deputy general manager of Visa Steel.

The bear is suspected to have strayed into the plant from nearby Badasuli hill after local residents tried to chase it away after spotting the wild animal near the plant vicinity in the morning.

Sources said the animal was seen roaming on the road and later it was chased down by a mob.

"We spotted the bear roaming near our village road in the wee hours today. We chased the wild animal by burning tyre. In a bid to protect itself, the wild bear jumped into the plant from a low height boundary wall of Visa Steel," said Rabindra Khatua of Jakhapura village

The bear has reportedly strayed into the Visa steel plant premises from the close vicinity of the neraby villages.

"The west boundary wall of our plant falls close vicinity of Pankapal village. The bear strayed into the plant from the nearby village. The wild animal hid itself in the bushes at an isolated place as we have grown many trees in the west side of the plant," said Agrawal.

He said though fear of the wild animal roaming free had gripped workers at the plant, but operation was routine and normal.

Forest officials from Tamaka, Jajpur Road and Bayree, ranges along with the local police, had rushed to the spot and swung into action to capture the wild animal.

A senior officer of the plant said that officials of the police and wildlife department had launched a search operation. He said traps had been laid across the plant to capture the bear.

The forest department have also requisitioned an expert team from Nandankanan zoo to catch the animal.

"Our first priority to catch the animal. Then it will be released back into its natural habitat," said Sudarshan Patra, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Cuttack.

He said the forest team was making all efforts to catch the bear, but the animal could not be spotted till Wednesday evening.