Panic grips residents as tusker roams streets of Odisha's Birmitrapur
The New Indian Express
September 30, 2023
See link
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/sep/30/panic-grips-residents-as-tusker-roams-streets-of-odishas-birmitrapur-2619556.html
for photo.
Panic gripped residents of Birmitrapur in Sundargarh district after a wild
tusker ventured into human settlements and roamed freely on the streets of
the bordering town keeping forest officials on toes on Friday.
The tusker reportedly came out of the nearby forest and walked along
National Highway (NH)-143 before entering Birmitrapur town at around 9 am.
Residents were taken aback on spotting the wild elephant walking very close
to their houses and scurried for cover in panic.
On being informed, officials of Rourkela forest division (RFD) rushed to
the town with members of elephant squad. The forest personnel launched
efforts to drive the elephant back into the forest and simultaneously
alerted people through megaphone speaker to stay at a safe distance and
avoid any adventure.
As many curious locals thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of the
jumbo, police had a tough time managing the crowd. Vehicular traffic on
NH-143 remained disrupted for around an hour due to the elephant’s
presence. Sources said no untoward incident was reported during the
tusker’s presence in the town.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Rourkela Yashobanta Sethi said the
tusker was safely guided to the nearby forest where it is still holed up.
Members of the elephant squad are closely monitoring the movement of the
tusker and trying to guide it into dense forest.
This was not the first time an elephant ventured into the bordering town.
The DFO said in the last two years, jumbos have managed to reach
Birmitrapur. In fact, jumbo herds or single elephants have entered
Birmitrapur town every year since 2013. At times, the jumbos even reached
thickly-populated areas.
In November 2013, an elephant chaser identified as Marianus Toppo was
trampled to death when he along with others was driving away a jumbo herd
from Deokarandafai area of Birmitrapur town.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/sep/30/panic-grips-residents-as-tusker-roams-streets-of-odishas-birmitrapur-2619556.html
Panic grips residents as tusker roams streets of Odisha's Birmitrapur
The New Indian Express
September 30, 2023
See link
<https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/sep/30/panic-grips-residents-as-tusker-roams-streets-of-odishas-birmitrapur-2619556.html>
for photo.
Panic gripped residents of Birmitrapur in Sundargarh district after a wild
tusker ventured into human settlements and roamed freely on the streets of
the bordering town keeping forest officials on toes on Friday.
The tusker reportedly came out of the nearby forest and walked along
National Highway (NH)-143 before entering Birmitrapur town at around 9 am.
Residents were taken aback on spotting the wild elephant walking very close
to their houses and scurried for cover in panic.
On being informed, officials of Rourkela forest division (RFD) rushed to
the town with members of elephant squad. The forest personnel launched
efforts to drive the elephant back into the forest and simultaneously
alerted people through megaphone speaker to stay at a safe distance and
avoid any adventure.
As many curious locals thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of the
jumbo, police had a tough time managing the crowd. Vehicular traffic on
NH-143 remained disrupted for around an hour due to the elephant’s
presence. Sources said no untoward incident was reported during the
tusker’s presence in the town.
Divisional forest officer (DFO) of Rourkela Yashobanta Sethi said the
tusker was safely guided to the nearby forest where it is still holed up.
Members of the elephant squad are closely monitoring the movement of the
tusker and trying to guide it into dense forest.
This was not the first time an elephant ventured into the bordering town.
The DFO said in the last two years, jumbos have managed to reach
Birmitrapur. In fact, jumbo herds or single elephants have entered
Birmitrapur town every year since 2013. At times, the jumbos even reached
thickly-populated areas.
In November 2013, an elephant chaser identified as Marianus Toppo was
trampled to death when he along with others was driving away a jumbo herd
from Deokarandafai area of Birmitrapur town.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2023/sep/30/panic-grips-residents-as-tusker-roams-streets-of-odishas-birmitrapur-2619556.html
