Haridwar, Sept. 30 -- With reports of wild animal intrusions steadily rising from colonies on the outskirts of Haridwar, the forest department has intensified patrolling and stepped up the use of technology to monitor and control elephant movement. Senior officials said drones and CCTV footage are now being deployed to track herds and prevent them from straying into residential areas and farmland. The move comes amid growing concerns among villagers and urban residents over repeated encounters with elephants in the district. According to the department, herds have been spotted almost daily over the past several weeks in the Pathri forest range, particularly around Jagjeetpur, Missirpur, Katarpur, Ajeetpur, Panjanhedi, Jeopata, Chandpur, Ranimajra, Bishanpur Kundi and along the Haridwar-Laksar road. Locals have complained that the elephants often raid crops and trigger panic in settlements. Recently, villagers staged protests demanding relief from elephant incursions, citing fear of movement after dusk and significant damage to standing crops. Residents of colonies such as Radhika and Shiv Vihar said elephant sightings have increased sharply since the monsoon receded. "We often see herds of six or seven elephants moving through our area, especially in the mornings and after dark. Although they have not harmed anyone so far, the constant presence of these animals makes us anxious," said Lakhan Singh, a resident of Shiv Vihar. Forest officials maintain that patrolling teams are dispatched immediately after receiving reports of animal movement. "We are extensively using technology, including aerial surveillance, to track elephant movement and plan measures to restrict their entry into non-forest areas," said Haridwar forest range officer Shailendra Singh Negi. HTC...