One person was killed by a herd of elephants when he was guarding his vegetable crop in the early hours of Monday at Balanda village in the Rairangpur forest range.

The victim was identified as Gobardhan Lakra, 45, a resident of Balanda village. The herd consisting of 15 elephants had sneaked into the area from the Sundargarh forest division. It was moving towards Rourkela but found enough plantation, mainly vegetables, midway and remained there.

Lakra, who was guarding his plantation, had come face to face with the elephants and tried to escape but in the process fell down. The herd, which was enraged as the villagers were chasing it, came charging towards Lakra and trampled him to death.

Rourkela DFO Subash Swain said: “The victim’s family has been given Rs 20,000 for the cremation. The family will also get Rs 4 lakh towards compensation according to the government policy.”

Another herd has come dangerously close to human habitation near the Kalunga industrial estate on the outskirts of Rourkela. The elephants have taken shelter in a defunct saw mill on the junction of Kalunga and Industrial Development Centre. There is no compound wall of the mill and it is spread over 15 acres. A portion of the area has a small reserve forest spread over 10 acres.

“The elephants are not visible because of the growth of the foliage and bushes,” said Kameswar Singh, who resides nearby. Banu Biiswal, a businessman, who stays inside the industrial estate, said: “There are nearly 10 elephants in the area.”

Kuanrmunda range officer Sudhansu Sahani said: “We will undertake a drive to chase the animals.”

Another herd of 17 elephants is creating havoc at three villages under the Rourkela forest division. The herd reached there only two days ago. “In a day or two, they will be chased back,” said an official.