Baripada: A herd of jumbos, which has strayed into human settlements in Rairangpur, has instilled fear in the residents giving them sleepless nights.

The residents of Gorumahisani and Bijatola blocks under Rairangpur wildlife division are encountering the threat since three days. The local residents and the wildlife department officials are trying to drive the animals out of their areas, but till now they have failed to contain the menace.

The elephants have damaged at least 16 houses and a school building besides devouring grains, banana trees, vegetables and pulses in Chhatramandal Kero village under Gorumahisani block. The herd damaged four houses on Saturday night and 12 houses were damaged in Kaduani and Kehjuri villages under Bijatola block. Besides they allegedly devoured stored rice for midday meal and ransacked the furniture of the Khejuri School barging into the campus.

The villagers are guarding their boundaries and burning firewood to scare the elephants to protect their life and property. The herd consists of two tuskers, nine female elephants and calves.

"Depredation squads, consisting of forest staff and protection personnel, have been engaged to drive the animals out. Traditional methods, including beating drums, bursting crackers and rotating fireballs will be used for the purpose. On Saturday, they damaged houses in Bijatola and on Sunday they reached Khejuri forest," he said.