Elephant Menace in Kanas: Farmers in Distress

Villagers in Kanas block of Puri district are reeling under fear and loss after a wild elephant strayed from Chandaka Wildlife Sanctuary and entered several villages, including Kotkana, Benanga, Madhipur, and Nuadokanda.

The elephant destroyed large stretches of paddy fields overnight, leaving farmers devastated.

Residents say they have been forced to stay awake at night to drive the elephant away, but the animal keeps returning, sparking panic among families and children.

The incident highlights the growing human-elephant conflict in Odisha, driven by shrinking forest cover, food scarcity, and expanding human settlements.

According to reports, Odisha has witnessed hundreds of deaths from elephant attacks in recent years, along with thousands of acres of crops lost.

Villagers have urged the Forest Department to take immediate steps to push the elephant back into the jungle and compensate farmers for their losses.

Officials are monitoring the situation, but tension remains high in the affected villages.