This group of 35 elephants was the first to reach Pratappur forest area. For this reason, there is a possibility of this group coming to the plains from Tamor Pingla Sanctuary area. This group of elephants had entered Rajpur forest range through the villages of Pratappur forest range.
A large group of 35 elephants is roaming freely in the border areas of Surguja and Balrampur districts. The paddy crop is being damaged by the elephants present in the border area of Lundra of Surguja and Shankargarh forest range of Balrampur district. Due to the presence of 35 elephants together, there is difficulty in monitoring them. Preventing casualties from elephants in the dark of night is proving to be a tough challenge for the forest department. Due to the severe cold, the people of the affected area are very worried because of the elephants. Elephants are causing massive damage to the paddy crop.
This group of 35 elephants was the first to reach Pratappur forest area. For this reason, there is a possibility of this group coming to the plains from Tamor Pingla Sanctuary area. This group of elephants had entered Rajpur forest range through the villages of Pratappur forest range. All 35 elephants had crossed the Ambikapur-Ramanujangaj National Highway near Chanchi forest of Rajpur and moved ahead, eating the paddy-sugarcane crops and causing damage by trampling them with their feet. Three days ago this team had entered Lundra forest range of Surguja district. While roaming in Chandreshwarpur, Jori, Bilhama area, all the elephants had gone towards Korgi-Amdari of Rajpur forest range on Tuesday night, but by dawn the elephants had entered Jargim Circle on the border of Lundra and Shankargarh forest range. They are also going there and causing damage to crops other than paddy and sugarcane. Due to their excessive numbers, the fields through which they are passing are being destroyed. Forest department officers and employees are busy monitoring the elephants all night. People are being alerted in the village adjacent to the elephant breeding area. The villagers are also running here and there to save their lives in the bitterly cold night.
As soon as night falls, elephants spread out over several kilometers.
Elephants stay in the forest throughout the day and after dusk, they come down to the fields near the populated areas. Their number is 35. Due to this, the crops grown in a limited area cannot fill their stomachs. This is the reason that 35 elephants spread within a radius of two to three kilometers around, hence it is not easy to monitor them. Many times it seems that the elephants have moved ahead, but later it is discovered that some elephants are still stuck. After eating the crops all night, they gather again at one place before sunrise in the morning. By sunrise, all the elephants enter any nearby forest. There are many small children also in this group. Due to these also the movement of elephants is not happening fast.
This group of elephants is relatively calm
Forest officials said that the elephants of this group are of relatively peaceful nature. This group of elephants has been roaming for the last several days but till now there has been no incident of loss of life. Elephants have not destroyed even a single house. This group of elephants does not go to populated areas. Moving forward along the edge of the forest. These elephants do not even flinch at the sound of noise, rather they start moving towards the forest. They are not going towards the populated areas. Lundra Ranger RB Rai said that the elephants are being continuously monitored. The villagers are also being alerted. On Wednesday, the elephants may return from where they were to Lundra forest range or may move towards Jargim in Shankargarh forest range.
