Baripada, Nov. 19: Forest personnel of Mayurbhanj district in Odisha are on their toes as two herds of elephants, about 90 in number, wreak havoc in two parts of the tribal-dominated district.

Although no human casualty has been reported so far, inhabitants of the affected areas are spending sleepless nights. The elephants are causing extensive damage to paddy in the region.

Migratory elephants numbering over 70, including 10 tuskers, entered from the eastern end of the district through Rasgobindapur. “Female elephants, adults and four to five calves entered our territory on November 13 evening crossing the Odisha-Bengal border near Jhargram. They have migrated from the Dalma Sanctuary of Jharkhand. They were initially around 150 in number. The rest of the members of the herd are in different groups in Bengal,” said Batakrushna Padhi, ranger of Rasgobindapur.

From the western end, around 18 elephants, including three tuskers, from Keonjhar district entered the Karanjia Forest Range.

While the ones that have come in from the eastern end are camping near Asanbani forests that fall in Betnoti range, the elephant herd that has come in from Keonjhar is at present camping near Sanabadaposhi. Traffic at two places near Dantiamuha and Chadheibhola was disrupted for hours yesterday as the jumbos were spotted on the road.

“We tried our best to push the Jharkhand jumbos back by using crackers, drums and other traditional means, but did not succeed. Though the damage to the agricultural land is yet to be assessed, it could be several hundred acres of area,” Padhi said.

Though the migrating elephants from Jharkhand are near Asanbani, they have been invading Saria, Chilabasha and nearby villages.

“The pachyderms have been taking shelter near a water reservoir at Asanbani. In the daytime they roam in herds in the fields, and in the evening they return to the forest,” said Basanta Mohanty, ranger of Betnoti.

The herd that entered from Karanjia have put forest officials in a tough position as they try to tackle the situation inside the forest.

“The jumbos are not only causing damage to cultivated land, they are also eating our stored food and damaging our houses,’’ said one Manjulata Mahanta, a resident of Karanjia range.

“The herd of 18, including three tuskers, has entered into our area from Keonjhar and are at present near Sanabadaposhi,” said Suryamani Barik, the ranger of Karanjia. Regional chief conservator of forests Anup Kumar Nayak said the staff was on alert and keeping a strict vigil.

“The jumbos have sneaked into our district from two ends. We are trying to drive them out with the help of local residents. On the one hand we are trying to contain the damage and on the other we are taking measures to ensure no harm comes either to inhabitants or the elephants. Our forest staff from Betnoti, Rasgobindapur, Dukura and Udala ranges have been engaged to tackle the situation,’’ said Nayak.