Baripada, Feb. 10: Residents of Karanjia in Mayurbhanj district are in danger, as a herd of elephants is playing havoc in the area.

The elephants have strayed into human habitation and are damaging properties and crops.

The herd of 14 elephants, divided in two groups, is causing destruction at the villages under the Kendumundi, Dudhianai and Kranjia forest ranges. So far, the animals have damaged at least 14 mud houses.

Arjun Hao, a resident of Nadigaon village, said: "The elephants have damaged my house. They also ate the stocked paddy and rice."

Paban Mahali of Chhototangar village said the elephants had broken into his house on Sunday night and consumed all the stored food grains.

Mahali's wife and daughters ran out of the house to save their lives.

Kandi Mahali, another resident of Chhototangar, said his house and food storage were damaged by the jumbos as well.

Madhusudan Nanda, a wildlife activist of Thakrumunda, said: "Though the herd has been in our area for the past 10 days. They have started to attack houses since the past three to four days. They are in search of food and breaking residential houses to get the stored food grains."

"People in the area are in a state of panic and fleeing to safer places. Even during daytime, the villagers are afraid to go alone to the market, as the road runs along the forest," Nanda said.

"The herd has damaged 14 houses. We could not drive them away," said local forest range officer Jayhari Nayak.

Divisional forest range officerKaranjia Asish Behera said: "The herd has come from the forests of Jharkhand. This group is seen for the first time in the area. They have divided themselves in two groups. A group of seven elephants is causing the damages."

"The officers of the forest ranges are trying to drive them away with the help of local people," Behera said.