Keonjhar: Attracted by the smell of traditional handia brew, a tusker has strayed into human habitations in the Keonjhar forest range areas, unleashing a reign of terror.

The elephant had got separated from the herd about a fortnight ago and now is showing no signs of leaving the area. The jumbo has gone berserk, almost taking the people of dozens of nearby villages hostage. Though no human life has been lost so far in the tusker attack, two persons have been injured. The villages worst hit by tusker depredation are Daanla, Bairugudisahi, Khajurimundi, Rangadihi and Nilambarpur, all coming under the Keonjhar forest range, said forest officials.

The brew is illegally manufactured at these villages. The wild elephant has developed a liking for the brew and keeps entering the villages at will. The local residents have stopped going out after sunset as the animal mostly intrudes the village areas following dusk.

The animal, which has been roaming in and around the villages, for the past one fortnight, has ravaged crops and damaged about 16 houses.

The forest department is sensitive towards the people's plight. A group of 50 skilled forest personnel having expertise and experience in tracking and chasing jumbos are on the job round-the-clock to drive away the elephant, which often tends to turn violent.

"The widespread preparation of local brew, handia, has made the matter worse. The elephants often raid the villages for liquor. The brewing of country liquor at these villages has led to elephant's depredation. The scent of country liquor is attracting the elephant towards the human settlements. Now, the jumbo has apparently developed an addiction towards handia," said a forest official.

"The elephants are often enticed by the typical aromatic smell of handia, which is a brew made of fermented rice. The drink is mainly prepared by the local villagers, who are mostly the tribal settlers," he said, adding that there was need to check illegal brewing of this country liquor which is part of tribal culture.

In another development, two persons were trampled to death by a wild tusker at Makarchuan village in Sambalpur.

The deceased have been identified as Deimati Bhoi and Sambhu Bhoi. A herd of wild elephants started vandalising the walls of Bhoi's house to reach for paddy. As Deimati yelled at the jumbos to drive them out, a tusker trampled her to death. Another jumbo pounced on Sambhu and killed him on the spot.