Stray jumbo wreaks havoc in Chatra

Chatra: A young elephant, separated from its herd, has taken refuge in the forest of Tandwa block in Chatra for the past few days, causing fear among villagers. According to forest officials, the elephant has not so far attacked any villagers but has damaged standing crops. Efforts are on to drive the elephant deep into the forest, away from human settlements, they said.
Sources said the elephant has been in the forest of Dahu and Badgaon, which is linked to Balumath forest in Latehar.Villagers say the elephant remains inside the forest during the daytime but enters the village in the evening, damaging standing crops, including green vegetables.
Villager Subodh Mahto said, "More than the crop loss, they are scared the elephant may damage houses." He said villagers face elephant menace throughout the year as several herds keep coming to their area through Latehar, which is an old corridor for them.
The forest department has deployed a six-member QRT to drive the animal away from the area, with expert forest employees assisting the team.