Baripada, Dec. 4: Residents of Karanjia are spending sleepless nights as a large herd of elephants are causing havoc in this remote region.

At least 22 elephants have strayed into the area from Keonjhar. Another 40 elephants, which have come from Jharkhand are also rampaging the area. Bhanjabeda, Mendhamundi, Uran and Benisagar are facing the wrath of the pachyderms.

Apart from inflicting heavy damage to the standing crops, the jumbos are also feeding on the grains that are stored in many houses in this region.

Madhusudan Nanda, a local resident said: “About 40 elephants have sneaked into Bhanjabeda village under Raruan, while 22 have entered from Keonjhar after crossing the Deo river.”

“Besides causing damage to paddy crops and vegetables, they are also damaging houses as well as household goods. The villagers are in a state of panic. They are guarding the village by burning tyres throughout the night,” Nanda said.

The elephants that came from Jharkhand have entered Benisagar village after destroying crops in Mendhamundi village. The wild herd has damaged 400 saplings that were planted under urban plantation.

“Benisagar village is located on the border of Jharkhand. The elephants migrate in search of food to our area. Once we chase them, they go back to Jharkhand and again come back,” said a forest range officer.

“Similarly, elephants that come from Keonjhar go back when they are chased away but in no time they come back through the Deo river route,” said the ranger.

Karanjia divisional forest officer, Asish Behera said: “ Squads are being deployed in Karanjia, Tato and Gugdia.”

“The elephants every year migrate from Dhobdhobini forest of Jharkhand to the forests of Badampahad. They migrate at this time of the year that coincides with the harvesting season,” Behera said.