Berhampur, Sept. 18: Two large craters have developed at Dhepaguda village under Raikia block of Kandhamal district earlier this week, creating panic among villagers.

"Two craters of 15ft wide and 20ft deep developed on Tuesday," said Jagannath Naik, a villager. One of the craters has been formed on his land.

Another villager said they had heard a loud sound on Monday night. The next morning, they had discovered the craters.

"It was raining heavily that night. We heard a loud noise and thought some boulders had rolled down from the nearby hills because of the rain. However, the next day, we discovered two large craters. We had never seen such craters earlier," said Hari Mallick, one of the villagers.

Concrete roads and several houses at the village have also developed cracks, forcing almost all the 34 villagers to flee the village, 80km from here.

The villagers have now taken up shelter at the Indragada Middle English School building situated half-a-km away from the village.

"The land around my house has started sinking today and I, along with my family, decided to take shelter in the school building," said Bhagaban Mallick, another villager.

In another development, many people from the nearby villages such as Bhanjanagar, Baibali and other adjoining areas are visiting Dhepaguda to see the craters.

Though Dhepaguda is in Kandhamal district, to reach the village, one has to go through Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district situated about 35km from here.

Raikia block development officer Suranjan Pradhan has visited Dhepaguda.

"We have provided rice and dal to the families taking shelter in the Indragada school building through the Indragada panchayat," he said.

"I have informed our higher authorities and requested them to send experts to ascertain the reason behind the development of such craters on the land," said Pradhan.