A house destroyed by elephants in Rengali block of Sambalpur district. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Dec. 29: A herd of elephants is causing havoc in areas within the limits of Rengali block in this district.

In Dalpatpali village, five families were rendered homeless as the marauding elephants damaged their houses. The affected families have now taken shelter at a primary school.

An affected villager said: “The herd of elephants entered into the village on Friday night and destroyed the houses of Hrushikesh Suanani, Bighneswar Sunaani, Sushama Bahnja, Santosh Bhanja and Kunduru Deep. The elephants also destroyed the paddy that was stocked in their house. A calf was also trampled to death by the wild elephants.”

Rengali tehsildar Lambodar Dharua said: “Fourteen members of the five affected families have taken shelter in a village school. We have also started free kitchen facilities for the affected families.”

Range officer of the Rengali forest range, S.C. Khuntia, said: “There were 30 elephants in the herd that had come from Jharsuguda forest range area. We have deployed a special elephant squad at Rengali and Sardhapali to prevent the elephants from entering further into the villages and causing destruction,” he said.

Khuntia also said: “The elephants move between the Jhasuguda and Rengali forest range areas. However, boundary walls of several industrial units have now come up in the way of their passage. The elephants are thus straying into areas of human habitation.”