Balasore, Dec. 7: Villagers blocked the NH-18 near Salabani in protest against elephants unleashing terror in Mayurbhanj.

After staying put in the Nilgiri area for nearly a month, around 100 jumbos are now moving in the reserve forest of Phulajhari under Betnoti range.

The herd pulled down six houses last night and damaged paddy crops.

Irate villagers of Salabani and Patharachatia today blocked the NH-18 between Balasore and Baripada for about two hours demanding that the herd be immediately chased away. They also demanded compensation for their losses.

The forest ranger and the sub-divisional police officer, however, pacified the protesters and lifted the roadblock.

The forest department has formed a team of nearly 130 employees to drive away the herd, which is from the Dalma sanctuary in Jharkhand. The electricity department has disconnected power supply to prevent electrocution of the jumbos. Villagers are guarding their houses at night by lighting up fires.

Betnoti forest range officer Basanta Mohanty said: “We are monitoring the herd’s movement. They are reluctant to leave the place. If we force them to do so, they may split in groups and create more problems.”

“Despite our appeals, the people continue to store handia, a kind of local brew in their houses. The smell of handia attracts elephants,” he said.