Elephant menace

Keonjhar: A herd of elephants wreaked havoc on several villages under Champua and Barbil range in the district, damaging crops and destroying human habitats. Sources said the attacks forced many villagers to move out of the village. Local residents alleged that the elephants had been entering into the village in the evenings and destroyed several houses and damaged crops.   

DFID visit 

Bhubaneswar: The new head of the department of international development (DFID), Gavin McGillivray, met chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday and discussed possible areas of co-operation. DFID’s co-operation in areas like urban infrastructure and services, water, energy, skill development, climate resilience strategies and governance reforms were discussed during the meeting. The DFID is already supporting the state in health and education.

Poisoned

Berhampur: A two month old girl was admitted to the hospital in critical condition after allegedly being poisoned by her mentally challenged father. The baby has been moved to Bhanjanagar Hospital after her condition worsened. The incident took place at Dihapadhal village within Bhanjanagar police limits in Ganjam district. The man has been identified as 35-year-old Munna Swain.

Rainfall likely

Bhubaneswar: Several parts of the state will experience moderate rain or thundershower under the influence of a cyclonic circulation, said the regional Met centre. The interior parts of the state are likely to witness heavy rainfall.