KORAPUT: Panic gripped Koraput after two elephants, separated from a herd of eight, entered the campus of Regional Sericulture Research Station (RSRS), on the outskirts of the town, on Monday.
The forest officials kept a close watch on the pachyderms throughout the day. Officials said the animals were spotted near a forested area on RSRS premises , 7 km from Koraput, early on Monday.
“Their movements are being closely monitored and we are trying to drive them out. We are facing problems due to rain,” said assistant conservator of forests (Koraput) L K Udgata, who is camping at the spot with a team of 10 forest officials.
Since jumbos move only during night and take rest during daytime, locals are panicky, anticipating that the animals might sneak into the town after dark.
Forest officials said the herd sneaked into the district from the bordering Kashipur of Rayagada district three months back.
The marauding mammals have razed several houses and destroyed large tracts of agricultural land at Panchada, Koilaguda, Dasmantpur and Laxmipur in Koraput in past two months.
“We are trying to reunite the two elephants with the herd. There is no need to panic as a special team of officials are monitoring them. We have urged people not to bother the animals,” said divisional forest officer (Koraput) Bijay Kumar Panda.