Dhenkanal: Travelling on the National Highway No. 55 between the district and Angul has become a troublesome affair as elephants are often spotted crossing the road at three points resulting in traffic snarl.

Officials had earlier said the jumbos blocked the highway once or twice a week. But for the past one week, it has been noticed that the herds have been crossing the road almost every day during the evening hours.

Forest officials said the elephants generally travelled between Hindol and Kamakhayanagar. They have been noticed crossing the highway at three points - Rasasingha, Gunadeipur and Haldiabahal.

Assistant conservator of Dhenkanal forest J.N. Dash said 124 elephants crossed the road on Tuesday, blocking the traffic for two hours in the evening. On Wednesday, 44 elephants crossed from east to west side, disrupting the traffic for three hours. "We are monitoring the jumbo movements. Almost every day, they come from the Hindol side to the Brahamani river area and return at night in large or small groups. During the movement, they cross the national highway," he said.

Dash said that no untoward incidents had been reported yet. "There is no solution to the problem except that we regulate their movements on highway," he said.

Animal lovers are worried over the issue as the national highway would be expanded shortly. Divisional forest officer R. Kumari said: "We are aware of the difficulties, so we have suggested to construct underpass for the movement of elephants at the time of expansion."