Balasore, April 3: Several villages of Oupada and Soro blocks of the district have plunged into darkness since the power distribution company has snapped supply fearing the life of a jumbo which has strayed away from Jharkhand.

The wild tusker has been moving in the neighbouring villages of Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary for quite some months.

“We have disconnected power supply for past three days fearing danger to the life of the jumbo. The tusker has been damaging houses. There are every possibilities of uprooting of poles and wires connected with 11KV line,” said Motilal Sethi, executive engineer of the Northern Eleciricity Supply Company (NESCO).

“Although we could have supplied power during day, yet we are not taking risk as the tusker’s movement has been inconsistent,” he said.

The power supply from the Mangalpur feeder to the villages of Karanjabana, Similiphula, Aghakhuli and Hatikhulia had been snapped, said the executive engineer.

Sources said the marauding jumbo had damaged houses in Similikhola, Rairangpur, Kadamdiha and Hatikholia villages under Singakhunta gram panchayat of the Soro block and uprooted fruit-bearing trees and plants en-route.

“We have received information regarding the damages caused by the tusker. We have also asked the local revenue inspector to submit a report on the damages,” said Soro tehsildar Manas Ray.

“The tusker has caused serious headache for us. It was sent to the Kuldiha sanctuary. Again it has now surfaced in Singakhunta areas. While during daytime it enters the reserve forest, it moves towards human habitats in the evening hours,” sad Soro forest ranger Rabindra Mahapatra.

“Perhaps the migrated jumbo is not able to adjust with native elephants,” said Mahapatra.

Efforts are being made to drive it away to the sanctuary by beating drums and bursting crackers, he said.